Leo Maguire
Encyclopedia
Patrick Leo Maguire, was an Irish
singer, songwriter, and radio broadcaster.
Born in Dublin's inner city, Maguire trained as a baritone
under Vincent O'Brien, John McCormack's voice teacher. For many years he performed with the Dublin Operatic Society.
Maguire was a prolific composer, writing over 100 songs. These include "Come to the Céile", "The Old Killarney Hat", "If You'll Only Come Across the Seas to Ireland", "The Dublin Saunter", which he wrote for Noel Purcell
, and "Eileen McManus" (recorded by Daniel O'Donnell
). His most famous song is "The Whistling Gypsy
". In 1954 Rose Brennan
was awarded third place by the New Musical Express for the best recording of the year for her cover of "The Whistling Gypsy". It was also a hit in Ireland and later in the United States.
Parallel with his musical career, Maguire also worked as a broadcaster on Radio Éireann
. The programme with which he is most closely associated is the Walton's Programme. This was a weekly sponsored show during which Maguire played recordings of popular Irish ballads. The programme was broadcast for almost 30 years until its cancellation in January 1981.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
singer, songwriter, and radio broadcaster.
Born in Dublin's inner city, Maguire trained as a baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
under Vincent O'Brien, John McCormack's voice teacher. For many years he performed with the Dublin Operatic Society.
Maguire was a prolific composer, writing over 100 songs. These include "Come to the Céile", "The Old Killarney Hat", "If You'll Only Come Across the Seas to Ireland", "The Dublin Saunter", which he wrote for Noel Purcell
Noel Purcell (actor)
Noel Purcell was an Irish film and television actor.-Career:Purcell began his show business career at the age of 12 in Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. Later, he toured Ireland in a vaudeville act with Jimmy O'Dea....
, and "Eileen McManus" (recorded by Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel or Danny O'Donnell may refer to:* Daniel O'Donnell, Irish singer* Daniel O'Donnell , American legislator from the state of New York* Danny O'Donnell * Danny O'Donnell...
). His most famous song is "The Whistling Gypsy
The Whistling Gypsy
The Whistling Gypsy, sometimes known simply as The Gypsy Rover, is a well-known ballad composed and copyrighted by Dublin songwriter Leo Maguire about 1950....
". In 1954 Rose Brennan
Rose Brennan
Rose Brennan is an Irish singer. She is best known for a long spell with the Joe Loss orchestra in the 1950s and 1960s.-Early life:Rose Brennan was born in Cabra West, a suburb of Dublin...
was awarded third place by the New Musical Express for the best recording of the year for her cover of "The Whistling Gypsy". It was also a hit in Ireland and later in the United States.
Parallel with his musical career, Maguire also worked as a broadcaster on Radio Éireann
RTÉ Radio 1
RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926...
. The programme with which he is most closely associated is the Walton's Programme. This was a weekly sponsored show during which Maguire played recordings of popular Irish ballads. The programme was broadcast for almost 30 years until its cancellation in January 1981.