Proinsias Ó Maonaigh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Proinsias Ó Maonaigh
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Proinsias Ó Maonaigh with his daughter Mairéad in 2002
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Proinsias Ó Maonaigh |
| Born | 28 April 1922 Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Died | 28 March 2006 (aged 83) Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Genres | Irish traditional |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, teacher |
Proinsias Ó Maonaigh (also known as Francie Mooney) was a famous fiddler from Gweedore in County Donegal, Ireland. He was born on April 28, 1922, and passed away on March 28, 2006. Francie was well-known for his amazing fiddle playing. He made a huge impact on Irish music and culture. His daughter, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, is a fiddle player and singer. She is also a co-founder of the popular Irish folk band Altan. His grandson, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, is also a talented fiddle player.
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Early Life and Musical Roots
Francie Mooney was born in Gaoth Dobhair in 1922. He was the youngest of eight children. His mother, Róise Mhór, was a famous musician in the area. She even played with "The Great Piper," Tarlach Mac Suibhne. Francie grew up in a home where everyone spoke Irish. Traditional music was a big part of their family life. They learned many Irish songs from a young age.
Family and Career
In 1954, Francie married Kitty Ní Ghallchóir, who was also from Gaoth Dobhair. They had three children: Gearóid Ó Maonaigh, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, and Áine Ní Mhaonaigh (Anna Mooney). Francie was also the grandfather of fiddle player Ciarán Ó Maonaigh.
Francie worked as a teacher at Luinneach primary school in Gaoth Dobhair. He taught there from 1967 until he retired in 1996. Even after retiring, he continued to teach many local people how to play the fiddle. He taught music until he was 82 years old!
Besides music, Francie was also a big fan of Gaelic football. He helped a lot with the local and county GAA clubs.
His Famous Music
Francie Mooney created several well-known tunes. Some of his compositions include "Francie Mooney's German," "Francie Mooney's Mazourka," and "Francie Mooney's Highland."
His most famous song was about his hometown, Gaoth Dobhair. It is called "Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair" (which means 'The Green Glens of Gweedore'). Many famous bands and singers have performed this song. These include Altan, Paul Brady, Brian Kennedy, and Clannad. Altan's version of the song is on their 1997 album, Runaway Sunday. A Scottish folk group called Battlefield Band also made the song popular. They called their version "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore."
Francie also wrote plays for the local theater. He even translated many songs from English into Irish.
Honored and Remembered
In 2003, Francie was honored by the Oireachtas. This is a big event that celebrates Irish culture. He was the president of the event held in Letterkenny that year.
Proinsias Ó Maonaigh passed away on March 28, 2006, after a short illness. His funeral was one of the largest ever seen in County Donegal. Many famous musicians paid tribute to him at his funeral. These included groups like Skara Brae, Altan, Paul Brady, and Clannad.
On November 22, 2007, a special concert was held to honor Francie. It took place at the opening of a new theater in Dunlewey. The entire concert was performed in Irish. It featured instrumental music and songs that Francie had composed or translated. There were also some of his favorite tunes. The event included many musicians and dancers, with a chorus of over 20 people, many of whom were family members.
His Musical Legacy Lives On
Francie played a key role in the success of many local musicians. This includes famous artists like Enya, Clannad, and Skara Brae.
His daughter, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, is the lead singer and fiddle player for the internationally recognized Irish folk group Altan. Mairéad's first solo album, Imeall (released in 2009), includes a song she wrote for her father. It is called "An Fidleoir," which means "The Fiddler."
Francie's son, Gearóid Ó Maonaigh, is also a talented guitar player. He is well-known locally for his musical skills and his love for Irish traditional music. Gearóid and other family members, like Anna Mooney, help organize local music events. One of these is the famous Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy (Frankie Kennedy Winter School).
Francie's grandson, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, is also a fiddle player. He received the 2003 TG4 Musician of the Year Award. In the mid-2000s, Ciarán formed a duo called Caitlín & Ciarán with his wife, Caitlín Nic Gabhann. She plays the concertina and is a traditional dancer. Their first album, Caitlín & Ciarán, came out in 2015.
In late 2013 and early 2014, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh formed a new band called Na Mooneys. She formed it with her siblings Anna Ní Mhaonaigh (whistle) and Gearóid Ó Maonaigh (guitar), and her nephew Ciarán Ó Maonaigh (fiddle and bouzouki). They played their first show at the very last Frankie Kennedy Winter School in Gweedore. Na Mooneys released their first album, Na Mooneys, in 2016.
Later, in the late 2010s, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh formed a trio called CCC. The group includes Caitlín Nic Gabhann and Cathal Ó Curráin, who plays fiddle and bouzouki and is also a lead singer. Their first album, The High Seas, was released in 2018. The trio is now often known by the name of their album, The High Seas.
