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Karen Marshalsay is from Scotland, and more specifically from Edinburgh. She is a highly acclaimed harpist, one of the few contemporary musicians to use the fingernail technique on Clarsach (Scottish harps) with gut and metal strings, as well as on the bray harp, which originates from the Scottish Lowlands; this little-known, more rhythmic instrument is better suited to ancient modal melodies and dances.

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Also hailing from the USA, meet Seán Heely and Beth Patterson. Seán, whose family roots lie in Scotland and Ireland, speaks Gaelic, which allows him to include songs in that language on his albums. A violinist, harpist and singer, he is blessed with quite a fantastic talent.

_{Philippe Cousin}

For once, let’s welcome some Finnish musicians to this column. Aeldfire was formed through the collaboration of singer Salla Rimmi and musician Niilo Sirola (bouzouki, guitar, banjo, mandolin and bodhrán), who played and composed together for over ten years as part of the Finnish Celtic folk rock band Greenrose Faire.

_{Philippe Cousin}

I have already introduced you to Kirsten Allstaff on the occasion of the release of her two previous albums. Originally from Dundee in Scotland, she moved to Ireland in the late 1990s. After ten years of teaching in Limerick, she settled in County Clare, where she currently lives.