TOM SWEENEY is a balladeer, songwriter and storyteller from Omagh, County Tyrone and a genuine ‘rarity’ in the field of Irish singing. Tom grew up steeped in music with a vast knowledge of songs as it was all in the family being the grandson of renowned Ulster ballad singer and song collector Sarah Makem, and also the nephew of legendary songman, Tommy Makem. Along with brother, Jimmy, the late Donegal fiddle player, P.V.O’Donnell, and fellow Omagh man, Brian Doherty, Tom founded the musical collective known as Barley Bree. He then spent nearly twenty years in Nova Scotia, Canada plying his musical trade. Tom has extensively toured Ireland, USA and Canada. In 1998 he accepted a personal invitation by then president, Bill Clinton, to perform his song ‘Anthem for the Children’ in the White House. His audiences range from four and five year-olds right up to the thousands who regularly attend his performances on the stages of the U.S. and Canada’s premier Irish music festivals. He has released over 20 albums of music and his amazing repertoire of songs are sure to please any audience!