Francis G. Neylon facts for kids
Francis G. Neylon (born July 3, 1921 – died December 10, 1983) was a talented Irish musician. He was famous for playing the Irish flute and piccolo, which are types of flutes. He played traditional Irish music. He was so good that he was honored in the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Hall of Fame in 2000.
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Francis G. Neylon: A Master of Irish Flute
Growing Up in County Clare
Francis G. Neylon, also known as "Frank," was born in a place called Kilnaboy in County Clare, Ireland. This is where his musical journey began. He taught himself how to play the concert flute and learned by listening, which is called "playing by ear."
While in Ireland, Frank played with a famous group called the Kilfenora Ceili Band. A "ceili band" plays traditional Irish dance music. He also performed on Radio Éireann, which was the main radio station in Ireland at the time.
Moving to the United States
In July 1949, Frank Neylon moved from Ireland to the United States. He first settled in Cambridge, MA, and then moved to Somerville, MA. He continued to share his love for Irish music in his new home.
Musical Achievements in America
Frank was a very skilled musician. He won many medals at music competitions called Feis in Boston and New York City during the 1950s.
In the U.S., he played the concert flute with several well-known ceili bands. These included The Tara Ceili Band, The New State Ceili Band, and The Connaught Ceili Band. He also played with the Hanafin-Cooley branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, an organization that promotes Irish traditional music.
Frank also recorded music. In the early 1950s, he made a series of 78 rpm records for the Copley record label with other great musicians like Paddy Cronin, Joe Derrane, and Jerry O’Brien. He also recorded with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in 1981.
Hall of Fame Recognition
Because of his amazing talent and contributions to Irish traditional music, Frank Neylon was honored after his passing. On February 19, 2000, he was inducted into the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Hall of Fame. This special honor was for the Northeast Region of the North American Province. It recognized his lasting impact on Irish music.
