Paddy O'Brien (musician and author) facts for kids
Paddy O'Brien, born on September 13, 1945, is a famous Irish accordion player and a writer. He wrote a book about his life called The Road from Castlebarnagh: Growing Up In Irish Music. He also created the Paddy O'Brien Tune Collection, which is a huge collection of Irish traditional music. It was the first time such a collection was published based on music he learned by ear.
Quick facts for kids
Paddy O'Brien
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| Born | 13 September 1945 Castlebarnagh, County Offaly, Ireland |
| Occupation | Musician, author |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Citizenship | US |
| Subject | Irish traditional music |
| Notable works | Paddy O'Brien Tune Collection |
| Notable awards | All-Ireland, Oireachtas, TG4 Gradam Ceoil Composer of the Year |
| Spouse | Erin Hart |
Contents
Paddy O'Brien's Life and Music Journey
Paddy O'Brien grew up in Castlebarnagh, a small area near Daingean in County Offaly, Ireland. His parents, Christopher and Molly O'Brien, had a small farm there. He went to school in Daingean and Tullamore. Later, from 1961 to 1969, he worked as a trainee for Bord na Mona, a company that deals with peat (a type of fuel from bogs).
Early Interest in Music
From a young age, Paddy loved traditional music. He played in music competitions and even appeared on RTE, which is Ireland's national TV and radio station. In 1969, he moved to Dublin and became a big part of the Irish traditional music scene there.
Collecting and Playing Music
Paddy O'Brien is known for collecting Irish traditional music. Over more than sixty years, he has gathered over 3,000 different tunes! These include jigs, reels, hornpipes, and marches, with many rare and special ones. He won the Oireachtas competition four times and became the All-Ireland senior accordion champion in 1975. In Ireland, he played and recorded music with bands like the Castle Ceili Band and Ceoltoiri Laighean.
Music in the United States
In 1978, Paddy O'Brien started recording and playing music in the United States. He performed in many cities like Washington D.C., Saint Louis, and New York. He has released six recordings with Shanachie Records since 1978. In 1988, he released his first solo album, "Stranger at the Gate." His second solo album, "Mixing the Punch," came out in 2011. His music has also been part of other live recordings and collections of Irish traditional music.
Teaching and Touring
Paddy O'Brien has taught music at many famous camps and schools. These include the Swannanoa Gathering, the Goderich Celtic Week, and the Willie Clancy Summer School in Ireland. He has also helped teach younger musicians as a master artist in the Minnesota State Arts Board Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program several times. He has toured and played with many other Irish traditional musicians in North America, Ireland, and Europe. In 2007, he was even invited to play Irish traditional music for audiences in Moscow, Russia.
The Paddy O'Brien Tune Collection
In 1994, Paddy started a big project to record and gather information on 500 jigs and reels from his huge collection of traditional tunes. This project became The Paddy O'Brien Tune Collection, Volume One. In 2011, he released Volume Two, which had another 500 tunes, including jigs, reels, hornpipes, slip jigs, and polkas. A third volume, with another 500 tunes, was released in 2013.
Current Activities
Today, Paddy O'Brien travels around his country and the world as a solo musician. He also plays with his trio, Chulrua. He performs at dances and concerts in the American Midwest with his seven-piece Irish traditional music group, O'Rourke's Feast. He lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with his wife, Erin Hart, who is a crime novelist.
Music Albums (Discography)
Here are some of the albums Paddy O'Brien has been a part of:
- Castle Céilí Band / Irish Pub Music / Arfolk SB 314 (1970)
- Castle Céilí Band / Castle Céilí Band / Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann (1971)
- Ceoltoiri Laighean / The Crooked Road / Gael-Linn CEF 035 (1973)
- Ceoltoiri Laighean / The Star of Munster / Gael-Linn CEF 047 (1975)
- James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien, and Dáithí Sproule / Is It Yourself? / Shanachie 29015 (1978)
- James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien, and Dáithí Sproule / Spring in the Air / Shanachie 29018 (1982)
- Hill 16 / Hill 16 / Meadowlark101 (1984)
- Paddy O'Brien, Dáithí Sproule, Karen Andersen, Erin Hart / Stranger at the Gate / Green Linnet GLCD 1091 (1988)
- Irish accordion anthology / The Big Squeeze / Green Linnet 9014 (1988)
- Seán O'Driscoll / Up the Airy Mountain (guest) Green Linnet (1988)
- Peter Ostroushko / Blue Mesa (guest)/ Red House Records RHR30(1989)
- Paddy O'Brien Paddy O'Brien Tune Collection, Volume One (1995)
- James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien, Dáithí Sproule / Traditional Music of Ireland / Shanachie 34014 (1995, re-release)
- Irish music anthology / Hunger No More / Eire Arts, MN Food Share (1997)
- Live concert recording / Gaelic Roots Festival 1995 / Boston College, Kells 9514 (1997)
- Chulrua / Barefoot on the Altar / Pied Piper Productions PPP 301 (2000)
- Irish music anthology / The Ice Palace / Irish Music & Dance Association (2001)
- Chulrua / Down the Back Lane / Shanachie 22001 (2003)
- Paddy O'Brien, Jamie Gans, and Dáithí Sproule / Snug in the Blanket / Black Tea Tunes BTT012 (2004)
- Accordion anthology / Minnesota All Stars / Rounder 82161-6110-2 (2005)
- The Doon Céilí Band / Around the World for Sport / Shanachie 23001 (2006)
- Chulrua / The Singing Kettle / Shanachie 23002 (2007)
- Paddy O'Brien, Dáithí Sproule, Karen Andersen, Erin Hart / Stranger at the Gate / Green Linnet GLI 1091 (re-release by Compass Records, 2008)
- Live concert recording / Young Irish Musicians Weekend / Center for Irish Music (2008)
- Irish music anthology / Hooley in the Heartland / Irish Music & Dance Association (2009)
- Paddy O'Brien, Tom Schaefer, Paul Wehling, Erin Hart / The Sailor's Cravat / New Folk Records WCM001 (2011)
- Paddy O'Brien / Paddy O'Brien Tune Collection, Volume Two (2011)
- Paddy O'Brien, Theresa Baker / Mixing the Punch / New Folk Records WCM003 (2011)
- Paddy O'Brien / Paddy O'Brien Tune Collection, Volume Three (2013)
Awards and Recognitions
Paddy O'Brien has received many awards for his musical talent:
- 1969: First place in Solo Accordion and Céilí Band (Castle Ceili Band) at Oireachtas.
- 1970: First Place Solo Accordion at Oireachtas.
- 1973: First Place Solo Accordion at Oireachtas.
- 1975: First Place Senior Accordion at Fleadh Cheoil (All-Ireland competition).
- 1975: First place Trio with fiddler Joe Ryan and flute player Micheál Ó hAlmhain at Fleadh Cheoil.
- 1977: First place Solo Accordion and Duet with Joe Ryan at Oireachtas.
- 1989, 1993, 1996, 1998: Master Artist—Folk Arts Apprenticeship from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
- 1994: Folk Arts Project Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
- 2006: Legacy Fund Grant from the Minnesota Irish Fair.
- 2008: Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
- 2009: Bush Artist Fellowship from the Bush Foundation.
- 2010: IMDA Honors Lifetime Achievement from the Irish Music & Dance Association.
- 2012: Cumadóir – Composer of the Year from TG4 Gradam Ceoil (Irish Traditional Music Awards).
- 2013: Folk and Traditional Arts Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
Books and Publications
Paddy O'Brien has also written and published:
- Dal gCais, Journal of Clare (Vol. 11, 1993): This included poems about other famous musicians, Willie Clancy and Seamus Ennis.
- Paddy O'Brien Tune Collection: Volume One (1995)
- Paddy O'Brien Tune Collection: Volume Two (2011)
- The Road from Castlebarnagh: Growing Up In Irish Music, Orpen Press, Dublin (2012) ISBN: 978-1871305692
