Derek Hickey. Photo: Alan Place.
Limerick accordion player Derek Hickey won big at the Gradam Ceoil TG4 2024, which every year celebrates the best of Traditional Irish Music.
Gradam Ceoil TG4, now in its 27th year, recognizes and celebrates the absolute best in performance and cultural impact in seven categories. This year’s awardees were announced during a special lunchtime concert at the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy.
Adare native Derek Hickey was honored in the musician category, while Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin won in the singer category, Macdara Ó Faoláin in the Young Musician category, Jean Butler in the Lifetime Achievement category, Ryan Molloy in the Composer category, The Kane Sisters in the Music Group category, and Cairdeas Na Bhfidiléirí in the Outstanding Contribution category.
Both Derek Hickey’s grandfathers played fiddle and his own musical career began at the age of 10, when his uncle left an accordion in the family home.
Derek progressed to dance tunes within weeks although he didn’t begin lessons – under the tutelage of Dónal de Barra – until he was 12. His professional career began three years later when he joined the Shannonside Céilí Band, founded by the Liddy family. The band toured extensively in England and throughout Europe.
In 1991 Frankie Gavin asked Derek to join him for regular sessions in his then leased hotel in Kinvara, County Galway. One year later, at just 18, Derek joined Arcady, Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh’s band, along with Frances Black, Brendan Larrisey and Patsy Broderick. Other guest members of this band included Sharon Shannon, Cathal Hayden and Gerry O’Connor.
In 1995 he joined De Dannan, recording two albums and touring until they disbanded in 2003. Derek is the button accordion tutor on the BA Irish Music and Dance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick.
In 2023 he performed at the National Concert Hall Dublin, as part of the third series of the Irish Traditional Music Archive’s ‘Drawing from the Well’ series.
Widely acknowledged as one of Ireland’s most prominent and influential master accordion players, his eponymous 2022 album was deemed by fellow box player Dermot Byrne as “a recording of a pure genius”.