Johnny Doran facts for kids

Johnny Doran (born around 1908 – died January 19, 1950) was a very famous Irish musician. He played a special instrument called the uilleann pipes. Many people consider him one of the best uilleann pipers of all time.

Life and Family

Ballynacally: a stone Johnny Doran used when playing his pipes.

Johnny Doran was born around 1908 in Rathnew, County Wicklow, Ireland. His family were Travellers, a group of people who traditionally travel from place to place. His family had a long history of being great musicians. His father, John Doran, and his brother, Felix Doran, also played the pipes. His great-grandfather, John Cash, was a famous piper from County Wexford.

When Johnny was in his early twenties, he worked as a traveling musician. He journeyed with his family in a horse-drawn caravan. He played music for money at fairs, races, and sports events. It is said that his amazing playing inspired young musicians like Willie Clancy and Martin Talty to become pipers too.

On January 30, 1948, Johnny Doran's caravan was parked in Dublin. It was a very windy day. A brick wall fell onto his caravan and also on Johnny. He was outside, tying his shoes. Bricks and rubble covered him completely. During the rescue, his lower back was hurt when he was pulled from the debris. After this accident, Johnny was unable to move his legs. His injuries led to ongoing health problems. He sadly died on January 19, 1950, in Athy, County Kildare. He is buried in Rathnew cemetery.

Johnny Doran had nine children. He had four sons and five daughters.

Music Recordings

Only one recording of Johnny Doran's music was ever made. In 1947, his friend, the fiddle player John Kelly, was worried about Johnny's health. John Kelly contacted Kevin Danaher from the Irish Folklore Commission. They arranged for Johnny's music to be recorded on special old-fashioned records called acetate disks.

The following tunes were recorded:

1. Coppers and Brass/The Rambling Pitchfork/The Steampacket (Jigs/Reel)
2. The Bunch of Keys/Rakish Paddy/The Bunch of Keys (Reels)
3. Tarbolton/The Fermoy Lasses (Reels) (With John Kelly)
4. An Chúileann (Air)
5. Sliabh na mBan (Air)
6. Colonel Fraser/My Love Is In America/Rakish Paddy (Reels)
7. The Sweep's/The Harvest Home/The High Level/The Harvest Home (Hornpipes)
8. The Job of Journeywork (Set Dance)
9. The Blackbird (Set Dance)
10. The Sweep's/The Harvest Home/The High Level/The Harvest Home (Hornpipes)

Musical Style and Legacy

During his lifetime, Johnny Doran was one of the most admired traditional musicians in Ireland. A person who studies traditional music, Breandán Breathnach, listened to Johnny's recordings. He said that Johnny was one of the greatest Irish traditional musicians ever recorded. He put him in the same group as the famous fiddle player Michael Coleman.

Johnny Doran had a very fast and smooth way of playing. This special style influenced many pipers who came after him. Some of these pipers include Paddy Keenan and Davy Spillane.

Discography

• The Master Pipers, Volume 1 original acetate disks, 1947.
• The Bunch of Keys audio tape, 'Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann' (CBÉ 001), 1988.
• Johnny Doran ~ The Master Pipers, Volume 1 re-mastered CD, 'Na Píobairí Uilleann' (NPUCD011), 2002.