Life

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Mick began his musical education on the Uilleann pipes

Uilleann pipes

The uilleann pipes or //; ) are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland, their current name, earlier known in English as "union pipes", is a part translation of the Irish-language term píobaí uilleann , from their method of inflation.The bag of the uilleann pipes is inflated by means of a...

 in the renowned Thomas Street Pipers Club in Dublin. His father Dinny O'Brien, a traditional "box" player, was also a constant source of tunes and inspiration.

Mick recorded his first LP with his family when he was 13 years old. He later joined Na Píobairí Uilleann

Na Píobairí Uilleann

Na Píobairí Uilleann is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of the Irish Uilleann pipes and its music.-Organisation:...

, an organisation founded to promote piping, where he absorbed hundreds of tunes and refined his technique. His playing can be heard on numerous recordings with artists such as The Dubliners

The Dubliners

The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...

, Frankie Gavin

Frankie Gavin

Frankie Gavin, b.1956, Corrandulla, County Galway, is a fiddle player of traditional Irish music.Frankie Gavin is from a musical family; parents and siblings being players of the fiddle and accordion. As a child he played the tin whistle and, later, the flute. He received some formal training in...

 and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra

RTÉ Concert Orchestra

The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is one of the two full time professional orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ, the national broadcasting station. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, has grown from a small studio-based recording group to...

.

Mick has toured extensively and given master classes throughout Europe and North America. His highly acclaimed solo CD of traditional Irish music; "May Morning Dew" was released in 1996.

In 2003, Mick released Kitty Lie Over along with fiddle

Fiddle

The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...

r Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh

Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh

Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh is a fiddler, born in Dublin, Ireland. He is known for developing a drone-based fiddle style heavily influenced by the uilleann pipes and the music of Sliabh Luachra...

. It was named No.1 Traditional Album of 2003 by Earle Hitchner in the Irish Echo.

Mick is currently a teacher in St Davids C.B.S in Artane Dublin, where he teaches Geography and Irish, among other subjects. Mick also looks after the hurlers of the school.

Pipes and whistles

Mick's concert pitch uilleann pipes were built by William Rowsome in 1921, with a new chanter and extra A/G drone made by Alain Froment, who also made Mick's Bb, B, and C sets. His whistles were made by Mike Burke in the USA.