The Official Site of Blarney Stone

Phil Halpin

Phil picked up an acoustic guitar over 40 years ago and has seldom put it down since. His passion for playing and singing to an audience has taken him to dodgy pubs and classy restaurants, from the musical theatre stage, to the ballroom at Jupiter’s Casino.
He only discovered Celtic music in recent years, and was instantly attracted to the culture, and the people he found at the various sessions he joined. He loves finding unique ways to interpret the rich traditions of Celtic music.
Phil brings a wealth of experience as a technician in recording and live music production to every performance, and relishes every opportunity to indulge his passion for recording.

Brendan Williams

The Blarney Stone, that the band is named after, resides in Ireland where Brendan grew up. Before arriving in Australia he played tin whistle and pipes and took up the fiddle whilst living in Darwin.  In the band he plays numerous instruments: accordion, mandolin and fiddle.  He has played Scottish bagpipes at over a hundred weddings and teaches several students and ukulele groups. He also sings bass in the Queensland Irish Choir. Brendan has been a member of several well-known Celtic bands and has years of performance experience.   

Colin McAndrew

Colin has been an integral part of the Scottish and Irish Pipe band scene   for many years. He is well known for his advanced drumming and took up the bodhran several years ago. He joined Blarney Stone in 2020.

Terri Matthews

Terri learnt piano at school and taught herself the guitar at 13.  As a Uni student in Sydney she spent most weekends at the Paddington Green Pub listening to the folk band “Raglan Road”. She took up the violin later in life and joined the Bribie Island Orchestra. She then switched to Celtic music and joined the Moreton Celtic Fiddle Club and Celtic Fusion.

She has performed in numerous Festivals and Brisbane Pubs with the highlight being Camp Gallipoli in 2015. She has recently added the Tenor Banjo and Irish Octave to her repertoire. She loves to sing lively renditions of tradition folk ballads.