Ronan Hardiman

Among Ireland's foremost composers of traditional music stands Ronan Hardiman, whose work includes the score for Lord of the Dance plus numerous contributions to Irish films and television series. Born in Dublin, he grew up with a father who occupied a senior role in Irish broadcasting, and as a youngster he gravitated toward rock & roll and pop while his siblings leaned toward traditional Irish music. He spent twelve years as a clerk at the Bank of Ireland, occasionally performing with pop bands throughout the 1980s. After resigning from that post, he shifted focus to creating pieces grounded more firmly in Irish traditions than in pop, writing specifically for radio and television; within months he supplied the theme music for the documentary My Riviera, a track that soon became widely recognized in Ireland.

In the years that followed, Hardiman produced music for Coca-Cola and Guinness, solidifying his standing as Ireland's leading contemporary composer. Michael Flatley, the creator of Riverdance, then recruited him to compose the score for the new production Lord of the Dance. Largely owing to that show's success, Hardiman secured a recording contract with Philips and issued his debut album, Solas, in early 1998.