Niall Edward Toner[1] (born 1944) is an Irish bluegrass musician, songwriter and radio broadcaster from Dublin, known nationwide for his programmes Country Heartland and Roots Freeway.
[2] Influenced by the recordings of the Fuzzy Mountain, Hollow Rock, and Highwoods String Bands they played "American traditional music, old-time songs and bluegrass".
The band's reputation was such that many visiting U.S. musicians would jam on stage with them, Bluegrass legends like Peter Rowan, Tex Logan and Kenny Baker.
They have recorded three albums to date, with the help of Bill Whelan, Richard Hawkins, and Martin Styles on five-string and claw-hammer banjos and Colm McCauhey on fiddle.
His composition, "Nuns Island Reel", has been included in the biggest-selling video game in history, Grand Theft Auto IV.