Cli Donnellan is an Irish traditional musician, producer, curator and creative arts facilitator living and working in her native East Clare. She has been involved in the creative arts sector for over 20 years. Cli founded and ran the Mountshannon Trad Festival from 2010-2019. From 2008-2018, Cli earned a Masters’ Degree in Community Music, Irish Traditional Music and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Arts Practice) from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, where she also co-ordinated the Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance program 2014-2018. Cli produced an archival CD entitled Songs My Father Sang in 2004 and released her debut album in 2020 entitled Beneath the Hedgerow.
From 2020-2022 Cli curated a number of multi-disciplinary events with the support of Clare County Councils Live Outdoor Performance Scheme in collaboration with Mountshannon Arts Festival. She has been involved in a wide range of community based collaborative projects over the years such as Introductory to Music Instrument Summer Camp for children, a collaborative Short Film presented at Mountshannon Arts Festival, Reels on Wheels (bringing music to the homes of people who cannot access music events) and primary schools creative song/percussion projects. Cli continues to perform music and is working on newly composed material. One of her compositions has been published in Faber Music publication released May 5th, 2023 entitled Folk Tunes from the Women, a first publication of 150 tunes by 100 female composers across Britain and Ireland. From 2019-2021 Cli produced and presented The Morning Dew, a live weekly radio show with Scariff Bay Community Radio (SBCR).
Since 2020, Cli has focused on developing her work and practice from her residence situated in the Slieve Aughty Mountain protected area of East Clare overlooking Iniscealtra (Holy Island), Lough Derg. She has developed a space that is tranquil and offers workshops as well as other holistic events from her residence. Through her own personal journey and research through her Ph.D. that focused on how we can enhance our creative experience, Cli works with clients on developing a deeper connection to the creative self. Cli is on the peer panel of the Arts Council of Ireland and is a mentor with Minding Creative Minds.