Ceol Tracks began not in a boardroom, but in a busy music class. As seasoned musicians deeply rooted in Irish tradition – Denis O’Toole, an uilleann piper and whistle player from Dublin with heritage tracing back to the travelling Dunne musicians, and Carmel O’Leary, an uilleann piper, a Galician Piper, a whistle and accordion player steeped in the rich Sliabh Luachra tradition of Kerry – we shared a passion for passing on our musical heritage.

In 2009, we co-founded Comhaltas Garraí Eoin in Limerick, aiming to bring traditional music to a community with limited access. We quickly encountered a practical hurdle: the available music books weren’t designed for efficient learning. Multiple tunes crowded pages, books wouldn’t stay open, and valuable teaching time was lost wrestling with awkward layouts.

We saw firsthand the frustration this caused for eager students. We knew there had to be a better way – a way that focused on clarity, ease of use, and building confidence. Our mission became clear: to create practical, high-quality resources that remove barriers and make the joy of playing Irish traditional music truly accessible to everyone, honouring the spirit of “ceol agus craic” (music and fun).

For years, Denis O’Toole, founder of Ceol Tracks, a musician and professional music tutor, watched talented students struggle with the same problem: existing resources were either too academic, too disorganised, or designed only for a single instrument. Students would waste time fighting with clumsy books and complex notation, slowing their progress and dampening their motivation.

The answer was to design a better tool. We took everything a beginner and intermediate student needs—ABC, staff, chords, and finger charts—and laid it out clearly on a single page. We then added features that only a teacher would think of, such as lay-flat binding and companion audio. Ceol Tracks isn’t just a book; it’s the efficient, frustration-free method we always wished we had for our students.

Hailing from Ballyfermot, Dublin, Denis carries a rich musical lineage connected to the travelling Dunne family. His journey began with the piano accordion, guided by the blind musician Johnny Mitchel, before the tin whistle and the iconic Uilleann Pipes captured his heart. A long-time member and teacher at Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU), Denis’s deep understanding of traditional music and pedagogy inspired him to create the unique Ceol Tracks learning system after identifying a need during his time co-founding and teaching at Comhaltas Garraí Eoin, Limerick.

Carmel grew up immersed in the vibrant musical landscape of Scartaglen, Kerry – the heart of the Sliabh Luachra region. A gifted tin whistle, Uilleann Piper, Galician Piper and Irish button accordion player, she embodies the area’s rich heritage of tunes, songs, and dance. Carmel also became involved with Na Píobairí Uilleann, where her path crossed with Denis’s. Together, they have dedicated years to performing, teaching, and fostering a love for Irish music across Ireland and Europe, sharing the passion that fuels Ceol Tracks.