Beoga

Beoga, a Northern Irish folk group, first drew international notice in the world music arena through releases including the 2007 album Mischief and The Incident in 2010; the latter earned a shortlist placement for a Grammy Award. Their precise musicianship and habit of merging traditional Irish sources with jazz, R&B, and pop eventually brought them together with U.K. star Ed Sheeran for his 2016 single “Galway Girl,” an association that markedly raised their profile.

Formed in 2002 in County Antrim, Northern Ireland—where “Beoga” translates as “lively”—the ensemble originally centered on Seán Óg Graham (accordion/guitar), Damian McKee (accordion), Eamon Murray (bodhrán), and Liam Bradley (piano). Emerging from the folk-dance circuit, the quartet delivered its debut, A Lovely Madness, in 2004, a lively set of reimagined traditional Irish pieces and new compositions that sampled an assortment of styles. Classically trained violinist and vocalist Niamh Dunne joined in 2005, enlarging the group’s palette on the follow-up Mischief two years later. The Incident from 2010 was shortlisted for a Best Contemporary World Music Album Grammy, and the warmly received 2011 album How to Tune a Fish further entrenched Beoga’s standing as a leading contemporary Irish folk act; Live at 10: 10th Anniversary Concert appeared the next year.

Mainstream visibility climbed after the band teamed with British star Ed Sheeran on “Galway Girl,” issued in March 2016 as the third single from his ÷ album. The jointly written track reached number one on the Irish singles chart and number two on the U.K. singles chart. Before We Change Our Mind, Beoga’s fifth studio album, also arrived that year. In 2017 the musicians reunited with Sheeran for the track “Nancy Mulligan,” and when he performed it at Glastonbury that summer they accompanied him onstage. Over the following two years they extended their reach, first linking with Northern Irish singer/songwriter Ryan McMullan for the 2018 single “We Don't Have to Run” and then with American country artist Devin Dawson on the 2019 track “Matthew's Daughter.”