When did you begin playing the fiddle?

I grew up in East Clare, in a rural farming community where traditional music was part of everyday life. My father was a fiddle player, and music was something that happened naturally in kitchens, at dances and small local gatherings. It was part of the social fabric. I started playing the fiddle when I was seven, learning by ear. Those early experiences shaped how I play music.

Martin Hayes. Photo © Laura San Segundo

What is it about traditional Irish music that you relate to so passionately?

It’s a grounded, earthy music vernacular that is also capable of expressing something universal and timeless. It carries within it both joy and sorrow, the dance and the lament. When I play, I’m trying to connect with that emotional truth, and when audiences respond to it, whether in Clare, New York or Australia, it’s a reminder that this music transcends geography. It’s a language of the heart.

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