uí Ógáin, Ríonach

Crotty, Elizabeth (‘Lizzie’) (née Markham ) (1885–1960), concertina player, was born 8 January 1886 at Gower, Cooraclare, Co. Clare, the youngest in the large family of Michael Markham, farmer, and Margaret Markham (née Keane). She attended national school in Cooraclare (1893–9).…

Kelly, John (1912–89), fiddle and concertina player, was one of eight children born to Michael Kelly and Elizabeth Kelly (née Keane) of Rehy, Carrigaholt, in the parish of Kilballyowen on the Loop Head peninsula in west Clare. He began to play the concertina at the age of seven,…

Kennedy, Frank (‘Frankie’) (1955–94), flute player, was born 30 September 1955 into the family of three girls and two boys of Bill and Agnes Kennedy, of Andersonstown, Belfast. He became interested in traditional music when he was around eighteen and was influenced initially by groups…

Kennedy, William (1768–1834), uilleann piper and pipemaker, was born near Banbridge, Co. Down. He was blind from the age of four because of smallpox. When he was thirteen he was sent to learn the fiddle and was taught by the Armagh fiddle player and piper John Moorehead. While there…

McGuire (Maguire), Seán Stephen (1927–2005), traditional musician, was born in Dunmore Street, off the Springfield Road, Belfast, on 26 December 1927, the son of Johnnie Maguire, of Callanagh Kilcogy, Mullaghoran, Co. Cavan, and his wife Martha (née Butler), of Ballycastle, Co.…

McKenna, John (1880–1947), flute player, was born 6 January 1880 in the townland of Tents near the village of Tarmon, Co. Leitrim, the son of Pat McKenna from Arigna and Cecily McKenna (née Ward), who was from Tents. The area was, and still is, closely identified with flute playing…

McPeake, Francis (‘Francie’) (1917–86), piper, was born 20 January 1917 at 43 Malcolmson Street, Belfast, the son of Francis J. McPeake (1885–1971), piper and tram conductor, and Mary McPeake (née Loney). The elder Francis McPeake was born 4 May 1885 at 2 Springview Street,…

This is a co-subject for the entry on McPeake, Francis (‘Francie’). View the original entry.

O'Leary, John ('Johnny') (Johnny Leary) (1923–2004), musician, better known as 'Johnny Leary', was born 6 June 1923 in Meall Uí Chíobháin (Maulykeavane), Co. Kerry, between Gníomh go Leith (Gneevguilla) and Killarney. He was brought up by his maternal grandparents, Paddy O'Leary…

Reavy, Edward (‘Ed’) (1898–1988), composer and fiddle player, was born 14 February 1898 in Barnagrow, Maudabawn, Co. Cavan, the son of Patrick Reavy, farmer, and Sarah Reavy (née Hamill), a renowned lilter. He emigrated in 1912 and settled in Drexel, Philadelphia, where he worked as…

Russell, Michael (‘Micho’) (1915–94), whistle player and singer, was born 25 March 1915 at Doonagore, not far from Doolin, Co. Clare, one of a family of three boys and two girls born to Aibhistín (Austin) Russell, farmer, and Annie Russell (née Moloney). Since his mother and father…