Paddy Canny
Encyclopedia
Paddy Canny was an Irish
fiddle
player. In a career that spanned over six decades, Canny was instrumental in popularizing Irish traditional music, both in Ireland and internationally. He gained initial fame in the late 1940s as a founding member of the Tulla Céilí Band, which made its first appearance on RTÉ Radio
in 1948 and had positioned itself as the top céilí band in Ireland by the late 1950s. Canny captured the All Ireland fiddle championship
in 1953 and was featured on the landmark 1959 recording, All-Ireland Champions: Violin. Although he stopped performing for large audiences in 1965, he returned briefly in the 1990s to record his critically acclaimed solo album, Paddy Canny: Traditional Music from the Legendary East Clare Fiddler.
of Glendree in County Clare in 1919, the youngest son of Pat Canny and Catherine MacNamara. Pat Canny was a noted local fiddle player, and taught the instrument to his three sons, Paddy, Mickie, and Jack. Paddy also learned techniques from a blind fiddle teacher named Paddy McNamara, who would board with the Canny family in winter and hold lessons in their home. By the time he was in his late teens, Paddy was performing at local crossroads
dances, céilís, and weddings.
In 1946, Paddy and several other musicians— among them fellow fiddler P.J. Hayes, pianist Teresa Tubridy, and accordion player Joe Cooley— founded the Tulla Céilí Band at Minogue's Bar in the town of Tulla
. The band's popularity grew quickly after they captured first prize at a Limerick
fleadh and made their first radio appearance in 1948. The following decade, the band began competing in the All Ireland competitions
, initiating a rivalry with the Kilfenora
Céilí Band, which won the competition in 1954 and 1955. In 1956, Tulla tied Kilfenora for first place in the Munster
competition but lost by a half point in the All Ireland. Tulla won first place the following year, however, and won again in 1960. The band toured Britain and the United States
in 1958, delivering a memorable performance at Carnegie Hall
in New York on St. Patrick's Day. The Tulla Céilí Band recorded five 78 rpms for HMV in 1956 and recorded their first LP, Echoes of Erin, in 1958.
Paddy individually captured the All Ireland fiddle championship in 1953. In 1961, he married Philomena Hayes, the sister of his bandmate P.J. Hayes. Both Canny and P.J. Hayes were featured on the 1959 album, All-Ireland Champions: Violin, one of the first major commercial recordings of Irish traditional music. Paddy's rendition of the traditional song "Trim the Velvet" was the signature tune of the long-running radio program A Job of Journeywork. By the mid-1960s, however, Canny decided the band's demands were too much of a distraction from his farm (which he considered his primary occupation), and he left the band in 1965.
In the early 1990s, Canny finally returned to the commercial music scene when he appeared on Gearóid O hAllmhuráin's Traditional Music From Clare and Beyond. Canny finally released his first solo album, Paddy Canny: Traditional Music from the Legendary East Clare Fiddler, in 1997. The album was named the year's top traditional album by The Irish Times.
Canny died on June 28, 2008. He was predeceased by his wife Philomena and is survived by his daughters Mary and Rita. His nephew, Martin Hayes
, has captured the All Ireland fiddle championship six times and continues to record and perform traditional Irish music.
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...
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...
player. In a career that spanned over six decades, Canny was instrumental in popularizing Irish traditional music, both in Ireland and internationally. He gained initial fame in the late 1940s as a founding member of the Tulla Céilí Band, which made its first appearance on RTÉ Radio
RTÉ Radio
RTÉ Radio is a department of Irish national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Radio broadcasts four analogue channels and five digital channels....
in 1948 and had positioned itself as the top céilí band in Ireland by the late 1950s. Canny captured the All Ireland fiddle championship
Fleadh Cheoil
The Fleadh Cheoil is an Irish music competition run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann or more commonly known as "Comhaltas" ....
in 1953 and was featured on the landmark 1959 recording, All-Ireland Champions: Violin. Although he stopped performing for large audiences in 1965, he returned briefly in the 1990s to record his critically acclaimed solo album, Paddy Canny: Traditional Music from the Legendary East Clare Fiddler.
Biography
Paddy Canny was born in the townlandTownland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Glendree in County Clare in 1919, the youngest son of Pat Canny and Catherine MacNamara. Pat Canny was a noted local fiddle player, and taught the instrument to his three sons, Paddy, Mickie, and Jack. Paddy also learned techniques from a blind fiddle teacher named Paddy McNamara, who would board with the Canny family in winter and hold lessons in their home. By the time he was in his late teens, Paddy was performing at local crossroads
Crossroads (culture)
In folk magic and mythology, crossroads may represent a location "between the worlds" and, as such, a site where supernatural spirits can be contacted and paranormal events can take place...
dances, céilís, and weddings.
In 1946, Paddy and several other musicians— among them fellow fiddler P.J. Hayes, pianist Teresa Tubridy, and accordion player Joe Cooley— founded the Tulla Céilí Band at Minogue's Bar in the town of Tulla
Tulla
Tulla is a town in County Clare, Ireland. The town is the commercial centre for Tulla parish and the surrounding area. Tulla church was founded about 620 by Mochuille and the town received its town charter in the 13th century...
. The band's popularity grew quickly after they captured first prize at a Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
fleadh and made their first radio appearance in 1948. The following decade, the band began competing in the All Ireland competitions
Fleadh Cheoil
The Fleadh Cheoil is an Irish music competition run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann or more commonly known as "Comhaltas" ....
, initiating a rivalry with the Kilfenora
Kilfenora
Kilfenora is a small village in County Clare in Ireland, just south of The Burren. The village is noted for being the home to the Kilfenora Ceili Band and the location for much of the filming of the sitcom Father Ted.-Places of interest:...
Céilí Band, which won the competition in 1954 and 1955. In 1956, Tulla tied Kilfenora for first place in the Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
competition but lost by a half point in the All Ireland. Tulla won first place the following year, however, and won again in 1960. The band toured Britain and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1958, delivering a memorable performance at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York on St. Patrick's Day. The Tulla Céilí Band recorded five 78 rpms for HMV in 1956 and recorded their first LP, Echoes of Erin, in 1958.
Paddy individually captured the All Ireland fiddle championship in 1953. In 1961, he married Philomena Hayes, the sister of his bandmate P.J. Hayes. Both Canny and P.J. Hayes were featured on the 1959 album, All-Ireland Champions: Violin, one of the first major commercial recordings of Irish traditional music. Paddy's rendition of the traditional song "Trim the Velvet" was the signature tune of the long-running radio program A Job of Journeywork. By the mid-1960s, however, Canny decided the band's demands were too much of a distraction from his farm (which he considered his primary occupation), and he left the band in 1965.
In the early 1990s, Canny finally returned to the commercial music scene when he appeared on Gearóid O hAllmhuráin's Traditional Music From Clare and Beyond. Canny finally released his first solo album, Paddy Canny: Traditional Music from the Legendary East Clare Fiddler, in 1997. The album was named the year's top traditional album by The Irish Times.
Canny died on June 28, 2008. He was predeceased by his wife Philomena and is survived by his daughters Mary and Rita. His nephew, Martin Hayes
Martin Hayes (musician)
Martin Hayes is a fiddler, born in Maghera in East County Clare, Ireland, and now living in West Hartford, Connecticut. He has been the All Ireland Fiddle Champion six times, and has won a National Entertainment Award, and the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2000 award for Instrumentalist of the Year...
, has captured the All Ireland fiddle championship six times and continues to record and perform traditional Irish music.
Recordings
- All-Ireland Champions: Violin (1959), with P.J. Hayes, Peadar O'LoughlinPeadar O'LoughlinPeadar O'Loughlin is an Irish flute, fiddle, and uilleann pipes player from Kilmaley County Clare, Ireland who has been an institution in Irish music since the late 1940s and is best known for having played on the highly influential 1959 LP "All-Ireland Champions - Violin" , which was one of the...
, and Bridie Lafferty. Since re-issued as An Historic Recording of Traditional Irish Music from County Clare and East Galway.
- Traditional Music From Clare and Beyond (1996)
- Paddy Canny: Traditional Music from the Legendary East Clare Fiddler (1997)
- Meet Paddy Canny (2004)
External links
- Irish Traditional Music Tune Index — background information on various tunes recorded by Paddy Canny