Turfmen Bio

For the past twenty-two years and over two thousand musical performances, the Irish folk band known as The Turfmen has been delighting midwestern audiences at concert halls, night clubs, fairs, fundraising events, and private gigs of all types. The diverse music they play has gained acceptance on several tours to the New England area and Ireland. Their recordings, tapes, and CDs are available at performance sites, Omaha Irish merchants, and by special order on their website, TheTurfmen.com.
 

The only original member  remaining  as an active performer is Peter Brennan who hails from County Louth. Peter started the band in Paul McGill's Dubliner Pub in the Old Market area of downtown Omaha over 23 years ago. Peter plays the button-key accordion. The band is named for the song, "The Turfman from Ardee", Peter's hometown in Ireland.
 

The band's leading vocalist, the popular Douglas County Public Defender, Tom Riley, has been with the band for over twenty years. His expertise includes the guitar, mandolin, and the Irish four-string banjo. Tom is well-known and widely respected among the country's Irish musicians.
 

The band has acquired several new musicians who have rounded out the talent of this band. The music is more diverse and better than ever. Brendan Riley, Tom's eldest son, plays the guitar and joins his father in vocal harmony.

Terry Keefe, a well-known musician from Lincoln and Sean Diaz, a local fiddler are often called upon to share the fiddling responsibilities for the band's performances.
       The Turfmen have enjoyed playing ballads, reels, jigs, and diverse Irish folk songs for cultural groups such as First Friday Jam series at the Joslyn Art Museum, the Jackson and Almeda Berkey Cantorum, The Council Bluffs Arts Council Music in the Park series, and the Creighton University Alumni Picnic among many others.
       The band is the only Omaha Irish band that plays exclusively Irish music, and they are often called upon to perform at ethnic celebrations such as the Christmas
at Union Station event, and the many events played in March when various communities celebrate their Irish and Celtic heritage.
       The Turfmen are available for hire at many varied events in the area, such as weddings, anniversary parties, birthdays, and the like.

Paul Hammel, bass, lives in Lincoln and works as a reporter for the World Herald. He has played with the band over the years as a temp, and now plays on a permanent basis.