Alec O'Leary (M.Mus., B.Mus., Dip. Inst. Teaching) is the director and founder of the Guitar Festival of Ireland and is widely regarded as one of the foremost guitarists of his generation. He has spent many years studying guitar with John Feeley at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin, and has had tuition from many distinguished players, such as , Roland Dyens, Scott Tennant, Sergio Assad, and . O'Leary plays regularly both as a soloist and in ensemble and has performed many times on both national radio and television. He plays guitars made for him by renowned Irish luthier .