Liam O'Flynn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Liam O'Flynn
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Liam O'Flynn, 1980
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Liam Óg O'Flynn |
| Also known as | Liam Óg Ó Floinn |
| Born | 15 April 1945 Kill, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Died | 14 March 2018 (aged 72) Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Irish traditional music |
| Instruments | Uilleann pipes, Tin Whistle |
| Years active | 1966–2018 |
| Associated acts | |
Liam Óg O'Flynn (born April 15, 1945 – died March 14, 2018) was an amazing Irish musician. He was a master of the Uilleann pipes, which are a special type of Irish bagpipes. Liam O'Flynn was known for playing traditional Irish music and sharing it with people all over the world.
He was a key member of the famous Irish band Planxty. He also played with many other well-known artists like Christy Moore, Kate Bush, Mark Knopfler, Enya, and Sinéad O'Connor. In 2007, Liam O'Flynn was named Musician of the Year at the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Awards. This is one of the biggest honors for traditional Irish musicians.
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Liam O'Flynn's Early Life
Liam O'Flynn was born on April 15, 1945, in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland. Music was a big part of his family. His dad, Liam, taught music and played the fiddle. His mom, Maisie, played and taught piano.
From a young age, Liam showed a natural talent for music. He was encouraged to learn the Uilleann pipes by a piper named Tom Armstrong. When he was 11, he started taking lessons from Leo Rowsome, a famous piper. He also learned a lot from other great pipers like Willie Clancy and Séamus Ennis. In the 1960s, Liam started winning awards at music festivals, showing everyone how talented he was.
Becoming a Music Star
Liam O'Flynn played a huge role in bringing traditional Irish music to new audiences.
Joining the Band Planxty
In 1972, Liam helped start the important Irish traditional music group Planxty. He formed the band with Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, and Dónal Lunny. Planxty built on the work of other groups like The Chieftains. They added a lot of energy and excitement to acoustic music, thanks to Liam's amazing piping skills.
Liam became very aware of his place in the long history of piping. He became close friends with Seamus Ennis, who taught him that being a piper was about more than just playing notes. Liam once said, "Seamus Ennis gave me much more than a bag of notes."
He also described how he felt when playing music: "When I'm playing, I'm certainly lost within it. It's like looking inwards. When a performer connects with the audience, it's like a spell is cast. A wonderful feeling moves from the musician to the audience and back again."
Working with Other Artists
After Planxty stopped playing together in 1983, Liam O'Flynn became a "session musician." This means he was hired to play on recordings for many different artists. He worked with famous musicians like the Everly Brothers, Enya, Kate Bush, and Mark Knopfler.
He also played music for movies, including Kidnapped (1979) and A River Runs Through It (1992). Liam was always open to trying new things. He even worked with a modern composer named John Cage. But he especially enjoyed working with composer Shaun Davey.
Liam also worked on projects that combined music with poetry, like with the famous poet Seamus Heaney. His name is even mentioned in a song called "Lisdoonvarna" by Christy Moore.
His Final Years
Liam O'Flynn passed away in Dublin on March 14, 2018, after being ill for some time. He left behind a wonderful musical legacy.
Discography Highlights
Liam O'Flynn released many albums, both on his own and with other artists. Here are some of his most important works:
Solo Albums
- Liam O'Flynn (1988)
- The Fine Art of Piping (1991)
- Out to an Other Side (1993)
- The Given Note (1995)
- The Piper's Call (1999)
With Planxty
- Planxty (1973)
- The Well Below the Valley (1973)
- Cold Blow and the Rainy Night (1974)
- After The Break (1979)
- The Woman I Loved So Well (1980)
- Words and Music (1983)
Key Collaborations
- With Christy Moore: Prosperous (1972), Ordinary Man (1985)
- With Shaun Davey: The Brendan Voyage (1980), The Pilgrim (1983)
- With Kate Bush: The Dreaming (1982), Hounds of Love (1985)
- With Mark Knopfler: Cal (film soundtrack) (1984)
- With Enya: Enya (1987), Shepherd Moons (1991)
- With Seamus Heaney: The Poet & The Piper (2003)
- With Mike Oldfield: Voyager (1996)
- With Mary Black: Speaking With Angels (2000)
See also
In Spanish: Liam O'Flynn para niños
