Michael McGoldrick

McGoldrick worked across musician and flautist. The registers place that work in music of Ireland, Celtic music and blues. This article rests on 92 catalogued compositions, 1 published texts, 19 issued recordings and 2 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

• Name — Michael McGoldrick • Landscape — yes • Birth Name — Michael McGoldrick • Born — 26 November 1971 • Birthplace — Manchester, England • Instrument — Irish flute, tin whistle, low whistle, uilleann pipes, tenor guitar, bodhrán, cittern, vocals • Genre — Celtic, folk • Occupation — Multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer • Years Active — 1980s–present • Label — Vertical • Associated Acts — Flook, Lúnasa, Kate Rusby, Mark Knopfler, John McSherry, Transatlantic Sessions, Usher's Island, John McCusker, John Doyle, Dezi Donnelly, Kyle Carey

McGoldrick has been a member of several influential bands. In 1994, he was awarded the BBC Young Tradition Award, and in 2001 he was given the Instrumentalist of the Year award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. McGoldrick was a founding member of the Celtic rock band Toss the Feathers while still at school. During this time, he competed at the Fleadhanna with fiddler Dezi Donnelly, whom he had met through local Comhaltas meetings. He appeared at various local and national festivals and ran whistle/flute workshops at the Cambridge Folk Festival and for Folkworks on their "Flutopia" concert tour. In the mid-1990s, McGoldrick was a member of Arcady, performing and recording with the band during its later years. In November 1995, McGoldrick co-founded the band Fluke! (later renamed as Flook) with Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen. After one tour, he left the group to pursue other musical projects. From 1997 until 2000, McGoldrick waws an early member of Lúnasa, performing on the group's initial recordings and tours. In 1998, he joined the Scottish Gaelic band Capercaillie, with whom he has recorded eight albums to date, including two live releases. McGoldrick played regularly with Afro-Celt Sound System and has been a longstanding member of Kate Rusby 's touring and recording band. He has also led his own ensemble, Michael McGoldrick Band, since the late 2000s. In addition to larger ensembles, McGoldrick has been active in smaller collaborative projects, including long-running duos and trios with musicians such as John Doyle, John McCusker, Tim Edey, John Carty, and Dezi Donnelly, resulting in several studio and live recordings. Since 2007, McGoldrick has been a regular member of the house band for the Transatlantic Sessions, where he has performed both traditional material and his own compositions and arrangements. In 2010, Michael temporarily replaced John McCusker, joining Tim O'Brien on Mark Knopfler's US leg of the Get Lucky Tour. Following this stint, he continued with the band for the European leg of the workd tour. As of 2024, McGoldrick remains an active touring and recording member of Mark Knopfler's band. In the early 2020s, McGoldrick became a member of Usher's Island, a folk supergroup featuring Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, Paddy Glackin, and John Doyle, contributing to recordings and live performance. In 2025, Michael released a tune collection and accompanying recording titled 50 Original Tunes and Chords, featuring Donald Shaw on piano and Innes White on guitar.

• Year — Album — Notes • 1996 — Morning Rory — Aughrim Records AUGH01 • 2000 — Fused — Vertical Records VERTCD051 • 2005 — Wired — Vertical Records VERTCD074 • 2010 — Aurora — Vertical Records VERTCD090 • 2018 — Arc — Vertical Records VERTCD111 • 2020 — Waterman's (Live) — Vertical Records • 2025 — 50 Original Tunes and Chords

• Year — Album — w/Artists — Notes • 1995 — Champions of the North — Dezi Donnelly — Magnetic Music • 2001 — At First Light — John McSherry — Vertical Records VERTCD061 • 2018 — Dog in the Fog — Dezi Donnelly — Boxroom Music • 2020 — Mike McGoldrick & John Doyle — John Doyle — Boxroom Music • 2022 — At Our Leisure — John Carty — Racket Records • 2024 — Jamland — Tim Edey • 2012 — Live — John McCusker & John Doyle — Vertical Records • 2016 — The Mark Radcliffe Folk Sessions — John McCusker & John Doyle — Smooth Operations • 2018 — The Wishing Tree — John McCusker & John Doyle — Under One Sky Records UOSR004 • 2020 — The Reed That Bends in the Storm — John McCusker & John Doyle — Under One Sky Records UOSR007 • 2020 — Christmas at Home — John McCusker & John Doyle • 2021 — At Home This Spring (Live) — John McCusker & John Doyle — Under One Sky Records UOSR009 • 2024 — The Best Of — John McCusker & John Doyle — Under One Sky Records UOSR011

• Year — Album — Band — Notes • 1988 — Live at the 32 — Toss the Feathers — Bop Cassettes • 1989 — Columbus Eclipse — Toss the Feathers • 1993 — Rude Awakening — Toss the Feathers • 1991 — Awakening — Toss the Feathers • 1994 — TTF'94 — Toss the Feathers • 1995 — The Next Round — Toss the Feathers • 1995 — Many Happy Returns — Arcady — Dara Records DARACD080 • 1996 — Flook! Live! — Flook — Small CD 9405 • 1997 — Beautiful Wasteland — Capercaillie — Survival Records • 1998 — Dawn Till Dusk (The Best of Capercaillie) — Capercaillie — Survival Records • 2000 — Nàdurra — Capercaillie — Survival Records • 2002 — Live in Concert — Capercaillie — Survival Records • 2003 — Choice Language — Capercaillie — Vertical Records • 2004 — Grace And Pride: The Anthology 1984-2004 — Capercaillie — Survival Records • 2008 — Roses and Tears — Capercaillie — Vertical Records • 2013 — At the Heart of It All — Capercaillie — Vertical Records • 2024 — ReLoved — Capercaillie — Vertical Records • 1998 — Lúnasa — Lúnasa — Self-released • 1999 — Otherworld — Lúnasa — Green Linnet • 2008 — The Story So Far... — Lúnasa — Compass Records • 1997 — Hourglass — Kate Rusby — Compass Records • 1998 — Cowsong — Kate Rusby — Pure Records • 1999 — Sleepless — Kate Rusby — Compass Records • 2001 — Little Lights — Kate Rusby — Pure Records • 2001 — Withered And Died — Kate Rusby — Pure Records • 2002 — 10 — Kate Rusby — Pure Records • 2003 — Underneath The Stars — Kate Rusby — Pure Records • 2005 — The Girl Who Couldn't Fly — Kate Rusby — Pure Records • 2007 — Awkward Annie — Kate Rusby — Pure Records • 2012 — 20 — Kate Rusby — Pure Records, Mighty Village, & Island Records • 2014 — Ghost — Kate Rusby — Pure Records • 2016 — Life in a Paper Boat — Kate Rusby — Pure Records • 2022 — 30: Happy Years — Kate Rusby — Pure Records • 2000 — All in a Life — Eden's Bridge — Straightway Records • 2002 — Isle of Tides — Eden's Bridge — Whole World Media Group • 2005 — New Celtic Worship — Eden's Bridge — Whole World Media Group • 2005 — Tunes — Sharon Shannon, Frankie Gavin, Jim Murray — Compass Records • 2006 — Upside Down — Sharon Shannon, Dezi Donnelly, Jim Murray — The Daisy Label • 2007 — Renegade — Sharon Shannon, Dezi Donnelly, Jim Murray — The Daisy Label • 2011 — Future Trad Collective — Future Trad Collective — Vertical Records • 2001 — Celtic Melt — Celtic Melt — Cavendish Music • 2017 — Usher's Island — Usher's Island — Vertical Records • 2024 — One for the Road — The McGoldrick Family • 2009 — Border Reiver (Single) — Mark Knopfler — Reprise Records • 2009 — Get Lucky — Mark Knopfler — Reprise Records • 2012 — Privateering — Mark Knopfler — Mercury Records • 2015 — Tracker — Mark Knopfler — Verve • 2018 — Down the Road Wherever — Mark Knopfler — Virgin Records • 2024 — One Deep River — Mark Knopfler — EMI/British Grove

• Year — Album — Artist(s) • 1997 — Straight on No Problem — Anthony John Clarke • 1998 — Spellbound — Ten • 1998 — 1 Douar — Alan Stivell • 1999 — Volume 1: The Source — Big Sky • 1999 — Volume 2: Release — Afro Celt Sound System • 1999 — Identités — Idir • 1999 — Missa Celtica — John Cameron • 2000 — Seal Maiden — Karan Casey • 2000 — Yella Hoose — John McCusker • 2000 — New Celtic Music From Green Linnet — Various • 2000 — Ceol Tacsi — Various • 2001 — Two Journeys — Tim O'Brien • 2001 — The Wind Begins To Sing — Karan Casey • 2001 — Raining Up — Mairead Nesbitt • 2001 — Cambridge Folk Festival - A Celebration of Roots Music 1997-1999 — Various • 2002 — Live Recordings From The William Kennedy Piping Festival — Various • 2002 — 50 US Cents — Reel & Soul Association • 2002 — Warm & Tender Love (Single) — Reel & Soul Association • 2002 — The Acoustic Folk Box — Various • 2002 — Through the Round Window — Eamonn Coyne • 2002 — Time To Fall — Karen Matheson • 2003 — Distant Shore — Karan Casey • 2003 — What Road? — Session A9 • 2003 — If Not Now — e2K • 2004 — The Arms Dealer's Daughter — Shooglenifty • 2004 — Musical Tour of New Zealand — Billy Connolly • 2004 — Movin — Human Touch • 2005 — Shots — Damien Dempsey • 2005 — ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM — Aquarium • 2005 — Wayward Son — John Doyle • 2005 — Downriver — Karen Matheson • 2005 — Strategy — Horace X • 2005 — Earthsongs — Secret Garden • 2005 — The Essential Collection 1995–2005 — Ten • 2005 — Hands Across The Water — Various • 2005 — Folktopia - Music of Vertical Records, Vol. 1 — Various • 2005 — The Furthest Wave — Cathie Ryan • 2005 — Raining Up — Máiréad • 2006 — My Secret Is My Silence — Roddy Woomble • 2006 — The Seventh Veil — Theresa Kavanagh • 2006 — Live Acoustic at the Jam House — Ocean Colour Scene • 2006 — The Songs of The Radio Ballads — Various • 2006 — Og Mhadainn Shamhraidh — Kathleen MacInnes • 2006 — Música na Maleta — Tejedor • 2007 — Peacetime — Eddi Reader • 2007 — Cuilidh — Julie Fowlis • 2007 — Prism — Beth Nielsen Chapman • 2007 — Across The Black River — Kevin Burke & Cal Scott • 2007 — Cool As Folk - Cambridge Folk Festival — Various • 2008 — Before the Ruin — Kris Drever, John McCusker & Roddy Woomble • 2008 — Yella House + Goodnight Ginger — John McCusker • 2008 — In Love + Love — Heidi Talbot • 2009 — Imeall — Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh • 2009 — Wells For Zoë - Water For Life — Various • 2010 — Exiles Return — John Doyle and Karan Casey • 2010 — On the Move — Colin Farrell • 2010 — Bretonne — Nolwenn Leroy • 2010 — Summer Hill — Damien O'Kane • 2010 — Last Star — Heidi Talbot • 2010 — Capture 1995-2010 — Afro Celt Sound System • 2010 — Celtic Roots — Various • 2010 — Transatlantic Sessions - Series 4: Volume 2 — Transatlantic Sessions: Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, & Various • 2010 — Transatlantic Sessions - Series 4: Volume 3 — Transatlantic Sessions: Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, & Various • 2011 — Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5: Volume 1 — Transatlantic Sessions: Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, & Various • 2011 — Shadow And Light — John Doyle • 2011 — Out on the Edge — Chris Dawson • 2012 — Ô Filles De L'Eau — Nolwenn Leroy • 2012 — All The Way Home — Cathy Jordan • 2012 — Only Boys Aloud — Only Boys Aloud • 2012 — Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan — Various • 2012 — Die Wanderhure - Best Of — Stephan Massimo • 2012 — The Sailor's Revenge — Bap Kennedy • 2012 — Five And Twenty — Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham • 2013 — Angels Without Wings — Heidi Talbot • 2013 — These Wilder Things — Ruth Moody • 2013 — Полная Дискография — Aquarium • 2014 — Gach Sgeul - Every Story — Julie Fowlis • 2014 — Songs from Twisting River — West of Eden • 2014 — Homecoming - A Scottish Fantasy — Nicole Benedetti • 2014 — Transatlantic Session - Series 6: Volume 3 — Transatlantic Sessions: Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, & Various • 2015 — Make a Note — Colin Farrell • 2015 — JEKYLL + HYDE — Zac Brown Band • 2015 — Encore Heureux — Zazie • 2015 — Complicated Game — James McMurty • 2015 — Urram — Karen Matheson • 2015 — Katie Morag (Music from the BBC Series) — Donald Shaw • 2015 — The Widening Gyre — Altan • 2015 — Vagabond — Eddi Reader • 2016 — My Secret Is My Silence — Roddy Woombie • 2016 — Altamira — Mark Knopfler & Evelyn Glennie • 2016 — Hello Goodbye — John McCusker • 2016 — Doolin — Doolin' • 2016 — The Seven Suns — John McSherry • 2016 — The Pound Ridge Sessions — Kevin Burke & John Brennan • 2017 — Alterum — Julie Fowlis • 2017 — Pretty Little Troubles — Malcolm Holcombe • 2017 — Searbh Siúcra — Éilís Crean • 2017 — Pretty Peg — Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys • 2017 — Celtic Colours Live, Vol. 5 — Various • 2017 — Happy 2017 from Tim Edey! — Tim Edey • 2017 — Hebrides - Islands on the Edge Soundtrack — Various • 2018 — Cavalier — Eddi Reader • 2018 — Folk Fever — The Band of Love • 2018 — The Art of Forgetting — Kyle Carey • 2018 — Banjophony — Damien O'Kane & Ron Block • 2018 — Basque Selfie — Korrontzi • 2018 — Love Is The Bridge Between Two Hearts — Heidi Talbot & John McCusker • 2019 — Quarehawk — Michael Walsh • 2019 — La Lluz Encesa — Llan de Cubel • 2019 — Inversions — Belinda O'Hooley • 2020 — The Path of Stones — John Doyle • 2020 — Simply Whistle — Pat Walsh • 2020 — Glackanacker — The Black Brothers • 2020 — When I Wait For You — Dirk Powell • 2020 — Earthbound — Starless • 2021 — Songs for the Sparrows — Nefesh Mountain • 2021 — Blue Shaman — Abaji • 2021 — I Got Rhythm — Tim Edey • 2021 — The Wishing Tree — Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys • 2021 — Flook/McGoldrick Remixes — Zazim • 2021 — Searbh Siúcra / Bitter Sweet — Eilis Crean • 2022 — Autumn — Laura Auer • 2022 — Our Voices Echo — Rura • 2022 — Women of the World — Chris While & Julie Matthews • 2022 — Now and the Evermore — Colin Hay • 2022 — Michael McGoldrick - Honesty Bar [Rua Soul Remix] — Rua Soul • 2022 — I AM WOMAN — Zazie • 2022 — Banjophonics — Damien O'Kane & Ron Block • 2023 — The Best of John McCusker — John McCusker • 2023 — Is It? — Ben Howard • 2023 — Palm Bay Frost — Palm Bay Frost • 2023 — Ozark Symphony — Kelly Hunt • 2023 — Korrontzi 20 — Korrontzi • 2023 — Live from Celtic Connections 2023 — Transatlantic Sessions • 2023 — This is Something Constant — Jack Rutter • 2023 — If Tomorrow — Steph Geremia • 2024 — Live from Celtic Connections 2024 — Transatlantic Sessions • 2024 — Songs of Clear Light — Boris Grebenshchikov • 2024 — Returning Home — Starless • 2024 — Andenes Del Tiempo — Vicente Amigo • 2024 — Oceania — Anya Hinkle • 2024 — Went To Walk — Claudia Schwab • 2024 — Coming Home — Cara Dillon • 2024 — Meanwhile — Eric Clapton • 2025 — Trip to Herves Set (Single) — Liam O'Connor • 2025 — Give Me A Day — Louise Rogan • 2025 — Gatherings — John Smith • 2025 — Evening Star — Alison Brown & Steve Martin • 2026 — Lighthousekeeping — West of Eden • 2026 — Live from Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Celtic Connections 2026 — Transatlantic Sessions: Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, & Various

McGoldrick worked as musician and flautist. The fields McGoldrick worked in include music of Ireland, Celtic music and blues. McGoldrick played the Irish flute, the tin whistle, the low whistle, the uilleann pipes, the whistle and the flute. McGoldrick worked in English.