He is a founder member of The Boys of the Lough, with whom he has toured the world many times over, in its various incarnations, since 1972. The band's current line-up features Shetland fiddler Kevin Henderson on fiddle, Breanndán O Beaglóich from Kerry on concertina and vocals and Garry Ó Briain on guitar. Cathal has been the recipient of several awards of late, most notably the Irish Gradam Ceóil Award for best traditional singer in 2011 and a lifetime achievement award from Sgoil Samhradh Willie Clancy in 2010. Ever keen to experiment, he has formed several collaborations: North East Scots fiddler Duncan Wood and Cathal made a mainly instrumental album "Auld Springs Gie Nae Price" in 2010; he worked with Gerry "fiddle" O'Connor on a huge archive of his songs, "I Have Travelled This Country" (Lughnasa Music 2011) as well as many smaller, grassroots projects. You are as likely to find Cathal sharing his immense knowledge at a local fèis or festival in Scotland these days, as playing on the major world stage. One thing is certain - he puts his heart into whatever he does!