The Buoys are all Sligo based and got together some years ago to take part in this Shanty Festival. They sing a variety of shanties and sea songs a cappella and even sometimes in harmony! They love the craic and meeting old and new friends. They have taken part in various events around Sligo promoting the festival and the work of the RNLI.

They recently featured on TV (Music from Sligo on TG4) and radio (RTE1 Seascapes)

Hooks and Crookes are shantymen based in Waterford originally formed in 2004 for the Tall
Ships race in Waterford in 2005. They enjoyed singing sea shanties and songs of the sea so
much they have continued to maintain the maritime musical heritage. Their name comes from
the Cromwellian saying, ‘of getting there by Hook or by Crooke’. Hook and Crooke are the name
of the headlands on either side of Waterford Harbour.

A new group that has quickly become a unique presence in Northern Ireland’s music culture. Their performances, ranging from collaboration with a West End theatre star to participating in maritime festivals and charity fundraisers, have brought joy to audiences. Their infectious passion for sea shanties not only entertains but also serves as a cultural link to the rich maritime heritage of the Causeway coast.

Eight Bells is Ireland’s first and longest-running all-female shanty group, delivering powerful, rich harmonies inspired by life on the rugged Sligo coast. Back again this year, with a fresh line-up.

Ashore for a Loaf was formed by Paul Bewick and Willie Murphy, from a shared love of maritime song, storytelling, and having the craic. Along with Tony Lloyd they are among the founding members of Rosses Point’s Shanty Festival.

The group performs a lively mix of traditional sea shanties, ballads, and maritime songs from Ireland and beyond. Their emphasis is always on the story behind the song — capturing the humour, hardship, and adventure of life at sea. With strong harmonies and an engaging style, Ashore for a Loaf brings the spirit of the sea to festivals, pubs, and community events alike.

The Selkies are an all-women sea shanty group from Portaferry, Co. Down, and the only female sea shanty group in Northern Ireland. Formed in October 2022, they have grown in repertoire, confidence, and friendship while sharing their music across NI. The group has performed at charity and community events, including the 200th RNLI anniversary, and appeared on UTV’s Keepers of the Lough. Inspired by the Irish and Scottish Selkie legend, they are delighted to visit Rosses Point to perform, reconnect with fellow shanty performers they met at the Portaferry Sails & Sounds Festival in Portrush, and enjoy the hospitality of Sligo and the Wild Atlantic Way. The Selkies will also showcase new song releases, Ulster-Scots shanty songs, and their intergenerational programme with a local integrated school at the Wild Atlantic Shanty Festival.

Somewhere between Sheffield steel and the Wild Atlantic Coast, The Stormy Sals are four wonderfully stormy women bringing sea shanties roaring to life. With fierce four-part harmony and a love of songs carried on salt winds, they sing the classics you know and the hidden treasures you don’t — from hauling songs and heartbreak ballads to raucous tavern choruses made for singing along. Big harmonies, bold voices, and a touch of wild weather — The Stormy Sals bring the spirit of the sea wherever they sing.

Born in London but living in Sheffield, John’s early background was in choral and opera singing, before moving into folk and then mainly maritime music. As part of Monkey’s Fist, he has been singing sea songs and shanties for more than 25 years at maritime and folk festivals across the UK and Europe. Songs are accompanied by guitar and more unusually by the rich tones of a baritone McCann duet concertina.

The Marine Singers, a mixed-voice choir based at the Marine Institute, Galway, has been performing since 2013. Under the direction of Carmel Dooley, the choir has been embracing their marine connections and are currently expanding their repertoire of sea shanties and other marine based pieces. The choir is thrilled to be participating in the Wild Atlantic Shanty Festival!

Sligo folk and shanty singer Ian Bordley brings traditional sea songs, Irish folk and lively storytelling inspired by the Wild Atlantic coast. A familiar face on the North West session scene, Ian delivers music full of character, humour and maritime spirit.

Formed at the 2024 Wild Atlantic Shanty Festival on Coney Island, the Friends of Coney Island began when members of two shanty groups joined forces exclusively for the festival weekend. What started as a one-off collaboration quickly became a highlight of the festival. Now entering their third season together, the group brings energy, harmony, humour, and plenty of audience participation to every performance. With a huge depth of musical talent and experience, Friends of Coney Island perform a lively mix of traditional sea shanties and maritime folk songs that capture the spirit of the Atlantic coast. Witness this unique collaboration on Coney Island during the Wild Atlantic Shanty Festival. From powerful work songs to rousing sing-along choruses, the group celebrates the enduring tradition of shanty singing while keeping the songs of the sea alive for new audiences.