Brian has been involved in the music business since his teenage years. He was a founder member of the Wolfetones back in 1963 and as a leading member helped to build a very successful career for them in a very competitive and complex business.
The Wolfetones have become an icon of Ireland’s music scene, sold millions of records, CDs and DVDs, and hold the record of the fastest selling single in history which went straight to number 1 in less than three days. It was the Helicopter song written by Brian. The Tones have played in all the great concert halls of the world The Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall NY, the Olympia in Paris, to mention just a few.
Always in demand for Music and folk festivals and even after 58 years the demand for them has never Stopped. They have built a massive fan base across the world a base on which the sun never sets.
Brian as a writer has written over 130 songs has written music for Shakespeare’s play “As You Like it” commissioned by RTÉ. He has composed several top ten hits including 6 no 1 records. He has achieved all this without much radio play. He specialised in the stories and folklore of Ireland past and present which has been his passion and the study of his life.
Brian as a publisher created Skin Music back in 1971 because he felt that Irish creators and writers were not fairly treated by what was then mainly English controlled. He then sat on a small board of Irish publisher which consisted of just a handful of people like Paddy Walton from Walton’s Music, Dick Farrelly of Innisfree, Quite Man fame, Jimmy Kennedy Harbour lights and a few others.
“I was pushing for Ireland to take control of the PRS and MCPS in Ireland which were then controlled from England. Some felt it was a bit radical, but I felt it would help writers and Irish Publisher’s get a fair share and encourage more people to get involved either as writers or publishers.”
"Ceol Éireann is for the future of the industry and I am proud to be involved with this great idea and vision for Irish music. We have teamed up with some wonderful energetic people who I know will work tirelessly to grow the Irish music industry in all its forms".
Thomas Davis once said that “music was the first faculty of the Irish”. He was right then in 1843 and he’s right now. Ireland is full of great musical talent so let’s grow and promote it and give it an opportunity to prosper.
Dave has been an integral part of the Irish Music Industry for over Thirty years and in that time has penned over 700 songs, released 8 studio albums, Three live albums with his band PictureHouse and one solo album.
He has had over 20 radio hits in Ireland also.
Dave has also been published artist since 1991 and has signed numerous record contracts in his three decades in the business. He has also toured extensively all over the world in some the most iconic venues.
“I have been working constantly throughout this pandemic to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone in my industry and I am proud to be the Secretary General of Ceol Éireann”
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Johnny Lappin is an award-winning music publisher who has published songs for many of Ireland’s top music entertainers.
A founder Director of IMRO, Lappin has been at the forefront of the Irish music publishing business for almost four decades. In 1983 his clients Clannad won an Ivor Novello Award, often referred to as the Oscars for songwriters, for their “Theme from Harry’s Game” which was the first Irish language song to enter the UK’s top 5 singles chart. In 1985 Clannad won a BAFTA Award for “Robin The Hooded Man”, a song taken from the hit TV series “Robin of Sherwood”, which starred Jason Connery in the title role.
The series was picked up by over 130 countries worldwide. During his 40 years in music publishing, Johnny Lappin has published the works of a multitude of writers and artists such as Aslan, Sharon Shannon, Rob Burke, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Ryan Sheridan, Otherkin, Little Hours, Wyvern Lingo and countless others including the multi award winning Andrew ‘Hozier’ Byrne.
He has overseen the publishing careers of Grammy nominated artists such as Celtic Woman as well as Ireland’s folk band of the year The High Kings. In 2015 Lappin himself picked up an Ivor Novello Award as publisher for Hozier’s worldwide hit “Take Me To Church” and has also worked with Athy's finest, Picture This, on their international publishing deal.
Having served as a Publishing Director on the Board of IMRO for the full twenty-year term, he has recently taken on the role as Secretary of the Music Publishers Association of Ireland (MPAI) and is also been appointed as Chairman of the Mechanical Copyright Society of Ireland (MCPSI).
He is heavily involved in copyright lobbying issues on behalf of songwriters and publishers in association with the Brussels based International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP). Lappin also wrote the book “The Need To Know Guide to Music Publishing” (© 1997 Foxrock Music Productions), to help explain to musicians the practical workings of music publishing within the entertainment industry.
In 2019 he self-published his memoirs “In A Lifetime - From Hozier to U2” in which he details his lifetime in the music business which gave him a privileged front row seat at the extraordinary rise of the Irish music industry, as it grew from modest beginnings to become one of the major talent resources for the worldwide entertainment industry.
In 2021 he released the digital version of his book, which is available on Amazon.com by clicking HERE
Paul’s experience includes building strategic relationships with the world’s largest investment banks in Europe, USA, SE Asian Pacific- Rim & Africa.
Paul was the youngest MD at a global inter-dealer brokerage, responsible for the Global Equity Derivatives Trading Desk. Paul now works as a strategy consultant (VC & Private Equity) bringing outstanding relationship building skills to any project.
Paul has created, built and developed various businesses in London, New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, South East Asia (ASEAN Pacific-Rim) & Africa - where his unique skillset includes the ability to launch B2B sales driven teams, in multiple continents and countries across a range of different cultural and regulatory environments delivering performance driven results.
Paul can analyse and explain complex financial derivative products and international capital market dynamics in simple terms, to senior management & C-Suite executives. Paul is currently working with a number of tech Start-ups and also involved in social impact projects.
Aobhín is a vocalist/ musician from Dublin, and has worked a professional career in Media, advertising and Public Relations, for almost 20 years.
She has held many positions within the Oireachtas, JC Decaux, An Post and the Irish Cancer Society, helping her perfect her career path.
“I am very proud to be working with Ceol Éireann, we hope to implement change within musical society ”.
