The youngest of our featured Uilleann Pipers, Michael „Blackie“ O’Connell is a County Clare native and is highly regarded among the piping fraternity. Hosting the popular “Piping Heaven, Piping Hell” session in Ennis every Friday afternoon, Blackie brings together some of the finest pipers in the country to play each week. A teacher in the University of Limerick’s School of International Music and an organiser of the annual Ennis TradFest, he is heavily involved in the promotion of not only piping, but traditional music in general. Influenced by Paddy Keenan and taught by the great Limerick piper, Mickey Dunne, Blackie has developed his own unique style and brings a new energy to piping which will have you jumping off your seat. One of Doolin’s regular musicians, he plays in McGann´s and McDermott´s several times a week during the summer season, so chances are, you will be lucky enough to experience his music for yourself.

The O’Connell room is a favourite room with our guests, as it features a large west-facing Velux window in the sloping roof which allows for rural views over Doolin towards the Cliffs of Moher which are particularly beautiful at sunset.