Born in Beleek, Co Fermanagh, Kevin Loughlin is a self taught accordionist who acknowledges the influence of such artists as Will Starr and Finton Stanely.

At the age of 15 he won the accordion section at the Ballyshannon Fleadh Ceol in 1959. In 1964 he was the winner of the All-Ireland Championship on the three button accordion at Clones, Co. Monaghan. He collected firsts in the All-Ireland miscellaneous sections in 1967 and 1968, and won the Hohner competition in 1970.

He has played with many of the finest artists in the Irish tradition, such as Sean McGuire and Josephene Keegan, and has also released recordings under his own name.