Sean Cleland, Irish fiddle virtuoso and executive director of the Irish Music School of Chicago (which he founded in 2003), brings decades of passion and experience to The Kilgubbin Project. This band is his musical love letter to the American Irish experience — a synthesis of his many roles as educator, preservationist, and performer. Named after the historic “Kilgubbin” shantytown (now Goose Island) in Chicago, the group celebrates the heritage of Irish immigrants who once lived there.

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On June 29, 2022, Cleland and the Kilgubbin Project recorded a live concert at Martyrs’ — a performance that would later become their Live at Martyrs’ album, released in February 2024.

Members of the ensemble include Jesse Langen (guitar), James Reilly (flute, whistle, bodhrán, vocals), James Conway (whistle, jaw harp, harmonica), Liz Hanley (fiddle, vocals), Steve Morrow (bodhrán), and Tim Britton (uilleann pipes, whistle, mandolin, bass).

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This project is deeply personal — it reflects Cleland’s journey, his reverence for tradition, and his belief in how Irish music evolves in its American home.