Lead by Cork Renaissance man, Máirtín de Cógáin, who is crowned ALL-Ireland Storytelling Champion twice over, a noted singer, a heart beating bodhran (Irish Drum) player and actor. 

Joining Máirtín is Pete Pulansky on fiddle, Ben Jaber on pipes, Michael Eskins on concertina and Dancers from the Malone Academy of Irish Dance.

Máirtín de Cógáin 

is a singing, dancing, story-telling bodhrán player who also is a noted playwright and actor. He performs in his native Ireland and all over the U.S…. and between and beyond, too! An infectious personality, Máirtín pleasantly commands the attention of any collection of people, from a concert hall to an intimate porch.

Descended from a long line of storytellers and with two CCÉ All-Ireland’s for Storytelling under his belt, Máirtín gets no more joy out of life than the telling of stories.  If you are lucky enough to catch him spinning a few yarns, you are in for a treat.

When touring the globe with The Máirtín de Cógáin Project & The Fuchsia Band, Máirtín is also a true promoter of the Ballad. He is searching ever for those forgotten songs of old to give them new life, and also writes some of his own.  Máirtín learnt from many famous Irish singers such as Danni Maichi Ua Súilleabháin, Séamus Mac Mathúna, and Ciarán Dwyer. A fluent speaker of Irish (Gaelic), his love of the ‘Teanga na Gael‘ stems from his parents, who brought him up in a bilingual house and sent him to primary & secondary schools taught in the medium of Irish.  Máirtín then earned a Degree in the Irish language from University College Cork.

If not on stage singing, storytelling, dancing, or playing the bodhrán, Máirtín is threading the boards as an actor, most notably in the film The Wind that Shakes the Barley.  He has co-written many productions with the Be Your Own Banana Theatre Company, recently playing De Bogman off-broadway in NY.

PANA is a San Diego-based research and organizing hub dedicated to the full inclusion of refugees and displaced populations. Founded and led by refugees, the organization moves beyond traditional service models to focus on "power-building"—ensuring that New Americans aren't just recipients of aid, but active leaders in shaping public policy.

Why Your Support Matters

By attending our concert series, you are directly fueling PANA’s work to ensure every neighbor has a seat at the table. Their current initiatives include:

• The Global Village Project: PANA is developing a first-of-its-kind, community-owned land trust in City Heights. This 2.2-acre campus will feature 167 units of affordable housing, a multicultural marketplace for small businesses, and a nonprofit hub providing childcare and health services.