From bowiki

Bodhran, Percussion, Vocals, Marimba

Native of West Limerick

All Ireland Bodhran Champion 1975-1976

MA Hons Music Therapy University of Limerick 2002. Currently Working as an overstretched Music Therapist

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Taken From Tommy's Site

Tommy Hayes has been at the forefront of traditional Irish music for over 30 years. In a career that has exemplified diversity he has performed and recorded with most of the great names in traditional music and beyond.

Tommy has been a member of a number of ground-breaking bands during his during his career. He was a member of Stockton’s Wing from the bands inception in 1977 to 1983 recording four seminal albums. He then moved to the United States where he joined the jazz influenced Puck Fair with Brian Dunning and Micheal O Domhnaill. The group toured for five years and recorded one album on Windham Hill Records. Returning to Ireland in 1989, Tommy was a member of a number of bands among them “Altan” “Laim O Flynn and the Pipers Call Band” and the “Eileen Ivers Band”. He was the original percussionist for Riverdance and performed with the shows in Dublin, London, Washington DC and Belfast. He has accompanied President Mary McAleese on a number of state visits most recently to Brazil where he was part of a group providing a musical prelude to President McAleese’s speeches. He has released two solo albums “An Ras” and “A Room in the North” being the first Irish percussionist to do so. Music from both albums has been used in a variety of television and independent media productions.

In addition to his work as a performer, Tommy has written the music scores for the films “Windhorse” and “As Na Railli”; the television programme “Bridghid”; two plays for the Abbey Theatre – ” The Playboy of the Western World” and “Macbeth” and one for the Royal Shakespeare Company – “Shadows”. He has also collaborated with Dagdha Dance Company of Limerick and dancer choreographer Cindy Cummings on various productions. Dancers Colin Dunne and Maggie O Kane have choreographed a number of his compositions. He has also collaborated with artist Allanna O Kelly on the music for her installation on the famine that is on display at the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Tommy has recorded with many artists. To date has recorded output numbers in excess of 400 albums. In the world of film Tommy has played on numerous films amongst them “Titanic” “The Devils Own” “Rob Roy” “In the Name of the Father” and “The Field”. Tommy is also very involved in teaching and has held workshops and master classes in many parts of the globe.

Tommy is very involved in environmental work and is the chairman of the Irish Seed Savers Association an organisation dedicated to the preservation of native Irish fruit and vegetables.

Tommy returned to college in 2000 and received a Masters Degree from the University of Limerick in Music Therapy. He currently works in a variety of clinical placements, while actively pursuing his career in music. A new album is being prepared for release in 2008 and he continues to perform with a number of artists.