Described as "a deep and intense performer" (Irish Music Magazine), Macdara Yeates is known for his performances of Irish classics, docker songs and the forgotten ballads of his Dublin neighbourhood. 

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Growing up, Macdara Yeates was surrounded by music. There was always singing at home and at family gatherings.​ It wasn’t just traditional singing, he says, but even back then he was more attracted to that. “There was a certain mystery and frankness to it that, even as a child, was mesmerising.”

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Still, he says, now in his early thirties, he didn’t view his locale as a place from which he could draw musical inspiration, necessarily. He wanted to get as far away from Dublin as he could.

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“But there’s a saying, when you’re beginning traditional singing, it’s ‘Dig the ground beneath your feet.’ Don’t jump over to Connemara straight away to learn sean-nós singing. Find out where you’re from.” As well as releasing his own music, Macdara can be found rummaging in archives and putting together gigs, concerts and projects. For Hartlepool 2025, he is putting together a celebration of Luke Kelly's formative time in the North East of England. He'll also be performing throughout the festival.

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