Seán Doherty

Seán Doherty (b. 1987) is an award-winning Irish composer and musicologist whose work bridges the worlds of contemporary classical music, choral repertoire, and Irish traditional music. Originally from Derry, Seán was first introduced to music through the Irish fiddle tradition of his hometown. He went on to study music at St John’s College, Cambridge, followed by a PhD in musicology at Trinity College Dublin. He is currently Assistant Professor of Music at Dublin City University. He is represented by the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland.

Seán’s compositions are frequently performed and broadcast both nationally and internationally. His creative practice is deeply rooted in Irish traditional music. In 2025, he was commissioned by the Inishowen Traditional Music Project to compose a concert-length programme for the inaugural performance of the Inishowen Trad. Youth Orchestra at Féile na hInse. In 2024, he was commissioned by the Dutch Ricciotti Ensemble to create a new setting of O’Carolan’s Concerto for virtuoso viola and fiddle player Séamus Hickey as part of their tour of Ireland.

His recent chamber album, The Devil’s Dream, reflects his distinctive engagement with Irish traditional music. The collection brings together chamber works from the past decade and features renowned performers from both traditional and classical backgrounds.

Seán’s musicological research focuses on Irish traditional music, particularly the work of the seminal figure Francis O’Neill. He has also explored O’Neill’s collaborations with Selena O’Neill, the subject of the present proposal. His RTÉ Lyric FM radio documentary 1001 Gems examined O’Neill’s legacy, highlighting Seán’s dual expertise as both composer and scholar.