Gavin Whelan is widely regarded as one of the finest exponents of the tin whistle. Gavin was a founder member of the band Dál Riada along with, Mick Brodrick, Bouzouki, Tristian Rosenstock; bodhrán, Frances Cranny; lead vocals and Zöe Conway fiddle and backing vocals. The Band was a big success performing at numerous Festivals throughout Ireland and abroad. Gavin has also been actively involved in the teaching of Irish Traditional Music in primary schools in the Dublin area and annually at Willie Clancy Summer School, In Miltown Malbay Gavin has also featured on TV programmes including Geantrai with guitarist Paul Doyle, Open House afternoon show with Shane Mcgowan - guitar and Tony Quinn - bodhrán and The High Reel with Eoin O Neill bouzouki. Gavin graduated with a H.N.D In Irish Music Performance from The Senior College - Ballyfermot Gavin has taught at the following festivals and Schools Willie Clancy Summer school - Miltown Malbay – Co Clare The Des Carty weekend – Dublin The Phil Murphy weekend – Co Wexford Skerries Irish Music Festival – Co Dublin Unaverisity of Limerick – Co Limerick Inshoween, Culdaff –Co Donegal Joe Mooney Summer School – Drumshamboo – Co Letrim Chris Langan Summer School - Gavin has toured solo all over Ireland in venues encluding The Cobblestone, Smithfield- Dublin Whelans – Wexford st – Dublin The Sprit store – Dundalk The Lobby – Co Cork The Wexford Arts Centre The Culturlann - Belfast The Civic Theatre Tallaght In 2001 he released his first solo album simply titled Gavin Whelan on his own Record label Tallaght records and was hailed by the critics as "beautiful", "captivating" and "formidable". In 2002 he was nominated my Irish Music Magazine for Best Traditional Newcomer In November 2002 Gavin was asked by music network to take part in Music Of the Northlands tour witch encluded musicians Chris Wood – fiddle- vocals from England - Angelika Nielsen (fiddle) from the Faro Islands Timo Väänänen (kantele) from Finland plays various types of kantele, the Finnish national instrument. Robert Harbron (concertina/guitar) Synnøve S. Bjørset (hardanger fiddle) from Norway plays traditional repertoire in the Western Norway tradition Sophia EriksHenrik Jansberg (fiddle) is a young Danish fiddler who works as a soloist and with the group Tek3son (viola d'amore/fiddle) is one of Sweden's new hot fiddlers. Highlites of the tour enclude performances at the Towersey village folk festival and The folk in the fall serius in the Purcell rooms London. In 2004 he was asked to head the prestigious Music Network tour( The Next generation with musicians from his album encluding (Zoe Conway fiddle) Aogán Lynch- concertina – and Donnacha Moynihan – guitar) in 2006 he released his second solo album intitled Another time Gavin has played at festivals including Irish Festival in Finland in 1998 1999 and 2002 Lapua Folk festival in Finland Tel a viv Irish festival Isreal Gutinbrunn Folk festival Austria Music under the mountains festival Hollywood, Co Wicklow Skeries Irish music festival Dublin Pib Murphy Festival Carraig – on – Bannow – Co Wexford Beo Celtic Music Festival-National Concerthall –Dublin UCC Tradfestival – Co Cork Feakle Traditional music Festival - Co Clare He has got extensive radio play all over Ireland and America