The cover art for Brendan Begley & Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh's 'A Moment of Madness'

The pairing of fiddler Caoimhin O Raghallaigh from Dublin and accordionist Brendan Begley from Dingle in West Kerry is a musical delight leading to an eclectic and interesting evening whenever you can be in their company. 

Once again they have embarked on a tour of the U.S. with the support of Culture Ireland’s Imagine Ireland 2011 campaign that will conclude in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. 

O’Raghallaigh is most prolific these days and most recently been linked with Martin Hayes in the Gloaming project and also in a second recording with piper Mick O’Brien and numerous other creative undertakings. 

Begley, from the West Kerry family steeped in the well of the tradition is also a lovely sean nos singer in the Irish language with a sweet soft voice that belies his husky appearance.

Last year they released an album together appropriately entitled A Moment of Madness which aptly describes any interlude you may share with the pair, but there is some serious music delivered by two of Ireland’s most distinguished musicians.

First up for them will be an appearance at the Making Tunes Series at Princeton University’s Taplin Auditorium on Thursday, October 20 at 8 p.m.  More info at 609-258-9220 or www.princeton.edu/utickets.

The next night they will appear at An Beal Bocht in the Bronx (445 West 238th Street; 718-884-7127), the intimate music café in the shadow of Manhattan College.

They finish up in Middletown, Connecticut on Saturday in the Middletown House Concert Series at Congregation Adath Israel’s Small Sanctuary on 8 Broad Street (860-983-7963 or [email protected]).

O Ragallaigh will also appear in a two-night stint called Other Voices based on a TV series produced in Dingle by Philip King, another Culture Ireland sponsored gig at Le Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village (158 Bleecker Street, 212-505-3474) on October 27 and 28 at 6 p.m.

He appears with his Gloaming colleagues, Martin Hayes, Iarla O Lionaird and Thomas Barlett, with other musical guests including Glen Hansard, Laurie Anderson and Sam Amidon among others.

Also listed to do readings are Colum McCann, Joseph O’Connor and Paul Muldoon as part of the collaborative evenings which will be introduced by Gabriel Byrne.