Southeast Ireland traditional music group TULUA is preparing for an extensive Canadian tour this fall while promoting its latest single, “Michael Relihan’s / Rigney’s / Cap and Bells (Reels),” a three-tune set drawn from the band’s second album, In The Snug.
The tour will take the group across several Canadian provinces from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island, with performances scheduled between October and November 2026. The Canadian dates build on TULUA’s growing international presence following appearances at festivals and industry showcases in Canada, Australia, the United States and Europe.
New Single Draws From Irish Traditional Music
“Michael Relihan’s / Rigney’s / Cap and Bells (Reels)” opens In The Snug and combines three traditional tunes. The sequence begins with “Michael Relihan’s,” followed by “Rigney’s Reel,” associated with the playing of Paddy O’Brien, before concluding with Josephine Keegan’s “Cap and Bells.”
TULUA learned the final tune during a 6 a.m. kitchen session with other traditional musicians while touring Australia. Evan O’Grady contributes bodhrán to the recording.
The album was created in early 2026 during an intensive recording period in the Comeragh Mountains in County Waterford, Ireland. The group recorded all 12 tracks live and together in a small studio converted from an old cow shed.
“What makes this album special is the traditional roots that are deep within the music and songs, which are part of our daily lives in Ireland,” the band says. “It is songs from our area that are shared in kitchens and snugs, tunes that are written and shared by friends from afar and in old bars, a moment to tap into the never-ending repertoire of traditional Irish music that binds so many of us together.”
Album Combines Traditional Material and Original Compositions
In The Snug includes material ranging from historical songs to contemporary compositions. “Dunlavin Green” addresses the 1798 killing of 36 Irishmen in County Wicklow, while “The Cliffs of Cullenstown” adapts a century-old local poem.
The album also includes “Valo,” a tune written by a Finnish accordion player that the musicians learned on the day it was recorded. Guitarist Cian O’Grady contributed three original compositions, including “Ebb and Flow,” inspired by his childhood on the coast.
TULUA consists of Kayleigh Moran on fiddle and vocals, Diarmaid Murphy on flute, low whistle and mandolin, Ella McGrory on keyboard, piano and synth bass, and Cian O’Grady on guitar, Irish bouzouki and backing vocals.
Guest musicians include Evan O’Grady and Donnchadh Gough on bodhrán and Billy Sutton on shaker. Benny McCarthy recorded the album at Doon Studios in County Waterford, with additional recording by Neil McGrory at Macruari Audio in Donegal. Sutton mixed the project in St. John’s, Newfoundland, while Aidan Foley handled mastering at Masterlabs in Roscommon.
Canadian Tour Extends TULUA’s International Reach
Formed in 2019, TULUA describes its name as translating to “tribe of many paths.” Its self-funded debut album, No Coming No Going, arrived in 2023 and has sold more than 5,000 copies while exceeding 80,000 Spotify streams, according to information provided by the band.
The group has since performed across seven countries on three continents. Its Canadian connections include an official showcase at the 2025 Folk Alliance International Conference in Montreal and performances at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival and Goderich Celtic Roots Festival.
The 2026 Canadian tour begins Oct. 17 at Reiger Theatre in Courtenay, British Columbia. Additional western Canadian stops include Duncan, Salmon Arm, Saskatoon, Calgary, Leduc, Canmore, Okotoks, Lake Country, Vancouver and Salt Spring Island.
Tour Moves From Western Canada to Ontario and Atlantic Provinces
TULUA will then head east for performances in Ingersoll, London and Aurora, Ontario, followed by dates in Quebec and additional Ontario appearances.
The Atlantic Canadian portion includes concerts in Truro, Shelburne, Wolfville, Summerside, Church Point, Liverpool and Halifax. The run is scheduled to conclude Nov. 17 at The Carleton in Halifax.
The Canadian schedule gives TULUA an opportunity to introduce In The Snug to audiences across the country while expanding the international touring activity that has become an increasingly significant part of the group’s development since its 2019 formation.