Born and raised in northeast Ohio, Mike was introduced to Irish story-telling by his great uncle in county Mayo, Ireland. In Cleveland, Mike learned to enjoy the music by associating with the Cleveland Irish Musicians’ Club. Mike also discovered local storytellers - mostly teachers and librarians, who gathered monthly to swap stories and share experiences.

In the early 1980s, along with brother Dermot and Jimmy Noonan, Mike founded Celtic Ceol - an organization devoted to presenting Celtic music to Cleveland audiences. With Dr. Olga Nelson and the staff of Kent State University and the Cuyahoga County Library, he helped in the creation of the “Once Upon A Time” Storytelling Festival at KSU.

Mike has played the role of MC at various cultural events, including no less than 28 years at the Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival and the past 4 years on the Irish Festival Cruise.

Today, Mike continues to enjoy lecturing and entertaining various groups using many of the stories he has collected over the years.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Dermot grew up in a musical family, where singing and music-making were a part of everyday life. In 1974, Dermot moved to the US, where he has traveled and entertained with his extensive repertoire of Irish songs ever since.

For many years, he has been an avid folk music performer, researcher, supporter and educator in Cleveland. He has appeared in performance with national & international performers such as Séamus Connolly, Liz Carroll, and with Early Music ensembles such as Cleveland-based Apollo’s Fire and Pittsburgh-based Chatham Baroque, and Washington DC's The Folger Consort. He also plays with his wife Ülle Laido under the name shanua.

Presently he mixes his love of music with his interest and career in technology.