Niall Hanna

The Mountains of Pomeroy

The Mountains of Pomeroy was written by Dr George Sigerson around 1920 and has become something of an anthem for Tyrone. This tragic love song tells of the beguiling foxy outlaw, hiding in the mountains, staying beyond the reach of all but his loved one. The surrounding Sperrin Mountains are outstanding in their majesty and beauty and have moved many’s the musician to try to capture them. The melody of this superbly-crafted song is also frequently heard as a march and hornpipe and is played in sessions throughout the island.

Biography

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County Tyrone’s Niall Hanna was immersed in traditional singing at a very young age when he began to learn from the singing of his late Grandfather, Geordie Hanna. 

He won his first All Ireland title in singing when he was just 13 years old. Since then Niall has combined the traditional style of singing with his guitar playing and has performed on many stages. 

In 2011, Niall along with his brother Ciaran, fiddle player Niall Murphy and Bodhran player Eamon Rooney formed the young trad group ‘Reel It In’. All four musicians had met as pupils at the ‘Armagh Pipers Club’. The band combined lively sets with Niall’s traditional ballads and began to perform across Ireland and in Europe. 

As a solo artist, Niall became a recipient of the ‘Young Musician’s Platform Award’ and his first widely played album received two nominations, including Best Original Track, at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards which gained Niall recognition as a fresh talent in the Irish folk scene. 

Niall has shared stages with a range of highly established acts including John Mcsherry & Donal O’Connor, Barry Kerr, Rioghnach Connolly, Martin Meehan and the Ulster Orchestra. He has also toured in countries across Europe and in Australia where he has developed his ability to effectively convey the stories within his songs to a wide range of audiences.