My name is Jeroen Blancke, a passionate musician dedicated to crafting beautiful melodies with my violin and mandolin.

I've immersed myself in music over the years, in Belgium and Ireland. At 8, I picked up the violin as a heartfelt "Thank You" to my grandpa, who was a violinist himself, though I never heard him play. Fast forward through years of classical training, I nearly hung up my bow until my dad whisked me into the world of Irish music at 12. This new musical vibe jolted my spirit back to life. 

In 2003, a trip to Ireland with friends had me falling head over heels for the place. Returning home, I declared to my dad, "I'm moving to Ireland to master that Irish music magic!"

By 2007, I was living the dream in Galway, though my violin took a detour before catching up with me. I joined a learner group called Dusty Banjos, where pub sessions taught me invaluable lessons and gave me tons of confidence.

A move to County Cork shook things up, but a cozy pub session birthed the band Finnegan's Gaels in 2011. We had epic moments, like serenading Bruce Springsteen in 2013! During the pandemic, we recorded our second CD which I mixed and mastered myself - yes another skill I became interested in and learned...

In 2016, I co-founded Firefly with Jasmin, crafting original folk-rock melodies. Our first original song snagged an award in Cork in 2017! Eventually after many years of working together, I made the tough decision to part ways and pursue other things. 

Inspired by my Galway beginnings, I launched Cobh Trad in 2019—a weekly musical gathering for learners. This group has blossomed into a Cobh sensation, with members gaining the confidence to perform live!

My latest adventure? Teaming up with Paudie in a duo called Spideog, mixing Irish jigs with a rock twist. We've rocked everything from pub gigs to weddings!

And then, someone asked if I'd teach the violin. So, since 2024, I've been sharing my 30+ years of musical wisdom through private lessons.

From a Belgian classical violinist to a performer, composer, and teacher, it's been a wild ride! If this tale strikes a chord, let's chat and kickstart your own musical journey!