Altan is an Irish traditional folk music group, originally from Gweedore, Ireland. The band started as a duo in 1981, playing in pubs. At the beginning, the founders were Frankie Kennedy (flutist) and Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh (singer and fiddler). Between 1984 and 1985, they performed throughout Ireland, but also in Irish pubs and nightclubs in U.S.A. The first musicians that joined to Altan were: Ciaran Curran (bouzouki performer), Ben Lennon (violinist) and Cathal McConnell (flutist). Finally, with the addition of guitarist Mark Kelly, Altan became a band. Years later, Mark gave the band another music and new arrangements. At the beginning of the decade of 90´s, they joined Dermot Byrne an accordionist. The band had got gold and platinum albums in Ireland, and they did concerts in some country.
Nowadays, the members are: Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh, Dermot Byrne, Ciarán Tourish, Ciarán Curran and Daithí Sproule.
Web page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altan_(band)
http://www.altan.ie/