Johnny O'Leary facts for kids

Johnny O'Leary (6 June 1923 – 9 February 2004) was a famous Irish traditional musician. He played the button accordion. Johnny came from a special music area in Ireland called Sliabh Luachra.

A Life of Music

Early Days and Learning

Johnny O'Leary was born in a place called Maulykeavane. This area is right in the middle of Sliabh Luachra. Sliabh Luachra is well-known for its amazing traditional music. Johnny started playing tunes on a small accordion, called a melodeon, when he was just five years old!

By the time he was a teenager, Johnny was already playing music regularly. He performed for local dances, bringing joy to many. He played a special type of accordion called a Paolo Soprani box. He used a style called "press and draw" playing.

Johnny learned a lot from a great teacher named Padraig O'Keeffe. He also played with friends like Denis Murphy and his sister Julia Clifford. These musicians helped shape his unique style.

A Career Full of Achievements

Johnny O'Leary had a long and successful music career. He made many recordings of his music. He also appeared on radio and television shows. He won several awards for his talent.

One of his last big awards was the TG4 Hall of Fame award. This award celebrates people who have made a huge impact on Irish traditional music.

Playing with Friends

When Johnny was a teenager, he became very good friends with Denis Murphy. Their friendship lasted for 37 years, until Denis passed away. They often played music together at Dan O'Connell's pub in Knocknagree.

Other musicians joined them too. Johnny's daughter Ellen played the tin whistle. Kathleen O'Keefe also played the whistle. Michael Duggan played the fiddle. The Knocknagree Set Dancers often danced to their lively tunes.

The Music of Sliabh Luachra

The music from Sliabh Luachra is very special. It has many dance tunes like polkas and slides. These are more common there than jigs, reels, and hornpipes. While there are fewer slow, sad songs (called slow airs) compared to other parts of Ireland, the ones they have are very moving.

Many of Johnny O'Leary's polkas, slides, and barn-dances are quite unique. They are not widely known outside of the Sliabh Luachra area.

Preserving the Music

Breandán Breathnach was a person who collected and published Irish traditional music. He visited Sliabh Luachra for many years. He collected music directly from Johnny O'Leary. Breathnach believed that Johnny's playing kept the true style and tunes of the area alive.

After Breathnach passed away in 1985, Terry Moylan continued his work. In 1994, Moylan published a collection of Johnny O'Leary's music. A famous broadcaster named Ciarán Mac Mathúna met Johnny in 1955. He said that Johnny knew an incredible number of tunes, possibly up to 1,500!

Honoring a Legend

To remember Johnny O'Leary, a bronze statue was made of him. It is life-size and stands in Killarney Town Centre. John O'Donoghue, who was a government minister, officially revealed the statue on April 28, 2007.

Recordings

• Music from Sliabh Luachra Volume 5: Johnny O'Leary -. Music for the Set Topic /Ossian OSSCD 25 Recorded 1976-77.
• An Calmfhear/The Trooper Gael Linn CEFC 132 / CEFCD 132, 1989
• Johnny O'Leary of Sliabh Luachra: Dance Music from the Cork/Kerry Border, recorded December 1995. Craft Recordings, Dublin - CRCS01
• (with Paudie O'Connor) The County Bounds Ossian, 1999