About IASCA

IASCA represents the interests of music writers. Our members encompass the entire music industry, from professional songwriters and composers to those just starting out. Whether you are fresh out of university with a music related degree, an emerging songwriter, or writing music professionally, IASCA membership offers a range of services and benefits tailored to you. IASCA membership gives you the security of knowing that at any stage in your career you are represented by an organisation fully committed to your concerns and which will lobby on your behalf.

Moya Brennan

Director

Moya Brennan is widely regarded as The First Lady of Celtic Music and with a career that spans thirty years, she is one of Ireland’s greatest music ambassadors. Having completed her studies at The Royal Irish Academy of Music, Moya joined her brothers in forming Clannad in 1970, who would go on to become world renowned. Clannad have sold over fifteen million albums worldwide and are most well known for “Theme from Harry’s Game”, “Legend”, “In a Lifetime” and “Down by the Sally Gardens”. In 1992 Moya released her first solo record and she has gone on to sell over twenty million albums. Moya has collaborated with Bono, Robert Plant, Hans Zimmer, The Chieftains, Paul Brady and Van Morrison amongst many others, and she has recounted her experiences in the music business in her autobiography “The Other Side of the Rainbow”. Moya continues to tour and record extensively and is also committed to the various charities with which she is involved.

Fiachra Trench

Director

Fiachra Trench is one of Ireland’s best known composers and arrangers. He began his career in London in 1969, working there as an arranger, composer, musical director and producer, and returned to his native Ireland in 1991. Fiachra has worked on such films as Pearl Harbour, The Boxer, Die Hard and Twelfth Night and has collaborated with many of the leading lights of Irish music including Altan, Paul Brady, The Chieftains, The Corrs, Shaun Davey, Phil Lynott, Van Morrison and Sinead O’Connor. In addition, his original compositions have been performed by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Fiachra continues to live and work in County Wicklow and, in addition to many other projects, is also the musical director and pianist with The Carmel McCreagh Band.

Luan Parle

Director

First appearing on television on the Late Late Show aged ten years old and signing her first record deal aged just twelve, Luan Parle can certainly be considered as one of Ireland’s musical prodigies. Her debut album “Free” was released in Ireland in 2007 and Luan went on to win the 2007 Meteor Award for Best Irish Female and the Tatler Award for Music Woman of the Year 2007/08. Luan has gone on to work with established songwriters including Bill Bottrell (Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Madonna), Chris Kimsey (Rolling Stones, INXS) and Stephen Lironi (Bon Jovi, Hanson, Lloyd Cole). Even Michael Jackson considered himself a fan of Luan’s and wanted to cover her song “Why Baby Why”. Having been signed to a major label early in her career, Luan has chosen to go the independent route with her latest album “The Full Circle” released through her own record label LPR.

Mal Tuohy

Director

Malachy Tuohy is the lead vocalist, writer and guitarist with The Riptide movement. The band got together in 2006 and self released two albums, ‘What about the tip jars’ in 2009 and ‘Keep on keepin’ on’ in 2012. Their third album ‘Getting Through’ landed them a deal with Universal Music, a No1 album in the Irish Charts, gold sales status, and a Choice Music Prize nomination for best album with ‘Getting Through’ and best song with ‘All works out’. Hit single ‘All works out’ was voted ‘song of the summer’ in 2014 by Today fm listeners, it was also picked up by Discover Ireland for their soundtrack to their TV and radio advertisements and it is currently been used by NBC’s ‘Today Show’ in the USA. Having won over their countrymen and gained attention in the UK with support slots to The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Neil Young and appearances at Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds, T in the Park and Bennicassim, third album ‘Getting Through’ has just been released internationally, the Riptide Movement are hotly tipped as Ireland’s next international breakthrough band.

Mal on songwriting: ‘There’s no better sense of freedom than to be able to sit down with a pen and allow your soul to bleed out and there’s no better sense of satisfaction when bringing it all to life through melody and song.

Sinéad Troy

Director

Sinéad Troy graduated from Senior College Ballyfermot in 1990. On leaving college Sinead worked with noted Irish music promoter Pat Egan for three years. She then decided to further her career and move to London where she worked with A toZ Manufacturing and Grapevine Records for seven years leaving as Interntional Product Manager. Sinead then spent a year with international labels Mushroom and Infectious Records and then decided after seven years in London to return home in 2001. She moved on to music merchandising company Seminal.

Sinead is the General Manager of the Irish Association of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, established in late 2009. IASCA was formed to provide a voice for Irish songwriters, composers and authors and lobby on their behalf.

As part of IASCA’s remit to improve the amount of Irish Music on Irish Radio, Sinead licenced YANGAROO’s technology from Canada, and launched Yangaroo Music Ireland.

Not happy with running two companies, IASCA’s latest initiative is PLAYIRISH Radio, on online digital radio station in partnership with the IBI and RTE and available on the Irish Radioplayer App, and via playirish.ie