McGowan Munnelly

Irish traditional and Newly composed music and song on Accordion and Guitar by master musicians.

David Munnelly is an accordion player from Belmullet, Co. Mayo, on the west coast of Ireland.

His singular musical voice is built on deep foundations, beginning with family influences, in particular his grandmother’s melodeon playing; then adding wild virtuoso flourishes, echoing the swing-flavoured Irish-American music of the 1920s and 1930s. These roots in the Irish tradition are set against sophisticated and contemporary multi-layered bass and chordal accompaniment, creating a unique, rich and unforgettable sound.

David is widely regarded as one of the most influential Irish accordion players of his generation: he has played with legendary Irish bands De Dannan and The Chieftains, and for 15 years fronted The David Munnelly Band. In recent years, his skills as a composer and arranger have come to the fore and David now works on a wide variety of music projects, ranging from the multi-award winning pan-Eurpoean accordion five-piece Samurai, through his experimental solo compositions, to the high-energy traditional Irish band Mórga.