Paddy O'Brien (accordionist) facts for kids
Paddy O'Brien (born February 10, 1922, died 1991) was a famous Irish musician. He played the button accordion, which is a type of accordion used in traditional Irish music. He was very important in creating a popular way of playing the button accordion called the B/C style.
Paddy O'Brien: A Talented Musician
Paddy O'Brien was born in Newtown, near Nenagh, in County Tipperary, Ireland. His father, Dinny O'Brien, was also a traditional musician. Dinny played the fiddle and accordion and led a band called the Bridge Céilí Band.
When Paddy was a teenager, he played with several céilí bands. These are groups that play traditional Irish music for dancing. He played with the Lough Derg Céilí Band and the Aughrim Slopes Céilí Band. In 1949, he joined the famous Tulla Céilí Band. He took the place of another great accordion player, Joe Cooley. In 1953, Paddy won the All-Ireland Senior Accordion Championship. This is a very important award for traditional Irish musicians.
Later in his life, Paddy O'Brien helped teach and guide other céilí bands. Some of these included the Ormond and Premier céilí bands.
Paddy O'Brien: A Creative Composer
Paddy O'Brien was not only a great player but also a talented composer. He wrote more than one hundred traditional Irish tunes during his life. These included different types of tunes like reels, jigs (double, slip, and single), hornpipes, polkas, and marches.
His daughter, Eileen, published many of his tunes in a collection in 2009. Some of his well-known compositions are "Cooley’s Hornpipe," "Dinny O’Brien’s Reel," "The Boys of Lough Gowna" (a jig), and "The New House." Eileen also released a CD of his music called Aon le h'Aon in 2012. She played his tunes on the CD herself.
Since 1992, an event called Aonach Paddy O’Brien has been held every year in Nenagh. This event remembers and celebrates Paddy O'Brien's music and his contributions. It takes place in August, just before the annual Fleadh na hÉireann, which is a big festival of Irish traditional music.
Paddy O'Brien's Musical Family
Paddy O'Brien married Eileen Seery. Her brother, Sean Seery, was a piper, and her father, Jim Seery, was a fiddle player. Both Sean and Jim were founding members of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann. This is a very important organization that promotes traditional Irish music, song, dance, and language.
Paddy's daughter, Eileen, is also a well-known musician. She plays the fiddle and piano and is a member of a group called the Boruma Trio. Another famous fiddler, Seán Ryan, was Paddy O'Brien's cousin.
