Michael Tubridy facts for kids
Michael "Mick" Tubridy, born on August 6, 1935, in Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland, is a very talented Irish person. He is known for being a skilled musician, a great step dancer, and a clever structural engineer.
Contents
Mick Tubridy's Amazing Career
His Musical Journey
In November 1962, Mick Tubridy helped start a very famous traditional Irish music group called The Chieftains. He played several instruments with the group, including the tin whistle, the Irish flute, and the concertina. He was a member of The Chieftains until 1979, helping them become well-known around the world for their beautiful Irish music.
Dancing Steps and Books
Mick Tubridy also has a passion for Irish dancing. In 1998, he wrote a book called "A Selection of Irish Traditional Step Dances." This book is a guide to sean nós (pronounced "shan nohs"), which means "old-style" step dancing. He created his own special system to write down the dance steps, making it easier for others to learn and preserve these traditional moves. He even recorded the steps of famous Clare dancing teachers like James Keane and Dan Furey.
He is also part of a group called Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, which helps keep Irish music, dance, and language alive. He helped create two books filled with traditional Irish tunes for his local branch of the group.
Building Big Things
Besides his artistic talents, Mick Tubridy is also a very smart engineer. He worked as a structural engineer until he retired in 1993. Structural engineers design the bones of buildings and other structures to make sure they are strong and safe.
He was in charge of designing the structures for important government buildings in Merrion Street, Dublin. He also designed the passenger buildings at Dublin Airport, which is a huge and busy place! In 1994, he was asked to help redesign the famous Rosse Six Foot Telescope so it could be rebuilt in 1996 and 1997. This shows how his engineering skills were used for both modern buildings and historical scientific instruments.
