Cathal Hayden - Media Pack
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Bio Banjo
TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year 2026.
Cathal Seán Hayden (born 13 July 1963) is a highly regarded Irish traditional musician from The Rock, near Pomeroy in County Tyrone. Best known as a master of the tenor banjo (as well as fiddle), he grew up in a deeply musical family and first took up the banjo through his father’s influence.
Hayden rose to international prominence in the late 1980s with Arcady, before becoming a founding member of Four Men and a Dog, one of the most successful Irish traditional bands of the 1990s. Alongside his band work, he has released acclaimed recordings including the solo banjo album Hooked on Banjo (2016), cementing his reputation for powerful rhythm, crisp articulation, and driving traditional style. In 2026 he was named Musician of the Year at Gradam Ceoil TG4, the highest honour in Irish traditional music.
Bio Fiddle
TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year 2026.
Cathal Hayden is one of Ireland’s most celebrated traditional musicians, renowned for his energetic, expressive fiddle playing and skill on the tenor banjo. Born into a musical family in The Rock, County Tyrone, he learned tunes passed down through generations and became an All-Ireland champion on both instruments. Cathal first gained recognition with Arcady before becoming a founding member of the acclaimed group Four Men and a Dog. Throughout his career, he has toured internationally, released solo recordings and collaborated with artists including Máirtín O’Connor, Seamie O’Dowd and Arty McGlynn. His distinctive style combines technical brilliance, rhythmic drive and a deep respect for tradition, earning him recognition as one of the finest and most influential fiddle players of his generation. In 2026 he was named Musician of the Year at Gradam Ceoil TG4, the highest honour in Irish traditional music.