Felix Doran (musician) facts for kids

Felix Doran (died 1972) was a famous Irish Traveller musician. He was known for playing the Uilleann pipes, a special type of Irish bagpipes. Felix played music from the early 1920s until the 1970s. He and his brother, Johnny Doran, came from a family of pipers. Their family, the Cash family, had a famous piper named John Cash in the 1800s.

About Felix Doran

Felix Doran was an Irish Traveller and a very skilled uilleann piper. His music was important to Irish traditional music. He helped keep the tradition alive for many years.

His Musical Journey

Felix Doran's music was recorded by important people. Ciaran MacMathuna recorded him for RTÉ, which is Ireland's national broadcaster. He was also recorded by Peter Kennedy and Sean Davies. These recordings helped share his amazing talent with more people.

Felix and his family often performed for crowds. They would entertain people at fairs and race meetings across Ireland. This was a common way for musicians to share their art.

A Special Instrument

The Uilleann pipes are a unique Irish instrument. Felix Doran was a master at playing them. Later in his life, Felix moved to Manchester. He became successful in the transport business there. He even ordered a very special set of silver uilleann pipes from an engineer in Germany. This shows how much he loved his instrument.

Recording His Music

Even after Felix Doran passed away in 1972, his music continued to be shared. A recording of some of his best music was released in 1976. It was called Felix Doran – The Last Of The Travelling Pipers. This album was released by Topic Records. It helped new generations discover his incredible talent.