William Connolly (piper) facts for kids
William Connolly was a famous Irish piper who lived in the 1800s. He was known for his music in both Ireland and the United States.
William Connolly was born in Milltown, County Galway, Ireland. His father was Liam Dáll Connolly, and his brother, John, was also a piper.
Contents
Early Life and Travels
William and his brother John traveled to Liverpool, England, early in their lives. From there, they sailed to the United States. John stayed in the U.S., but William continued his journey to Canada. He played music on boats traveling up and down the St. Lawrence River for a long time.
Life in the United States
After earning a lot of money, William moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he bought a house. However, he sold this house in 1863. He was worried he might have to join the army during the American Civil War. William felt it was much easier for him to play his pipes than to fight, so he quickly returned to Liverpool, England. He stayed there for four years.
Return to Ireland and More Travels
After leaving Liverpool, William went back to his hometown of Milltown, Ireland. He was quite proud of his success. People say he even hired a boy to carry his bagpipes through Milltown. This was to show everyone how important he had become.
Later, William sailed back to the United States. This time, he settled in Waltham, Massachusetts, where he built a dance hall. But he was a restless person and soon moved to San Francisco for a while. He then returned to Waltham before going back to San Francisco again.
William left California for the last time because he wanted to buy a building called Hibernian Hall in Brooklyn. However, he couldn't buy it because his wife did not want to sell their home in Waltham. He then moved to Pittsburgh, where he passed away sometime in the 1870s or 1880s.
William's Brother John
William's brother, John Connolly, also spent some time in San Francisco. Another famous piper, Patsy Touhey, said that John Connolly died around 1895 in Milford, Massachusetts.
A Talented Musician
Many people believed William Connolly was an amazing piper. Captain Francis O'Neill, who wrote a book about Irish musicians, shared what others said about William. Mr. Burke, who provided information for O'Neill's book, stated that "William Connolly was the best general player on the Irish pipes on either side of the Atlantic." Michael Egan, a famous maker of Irish pipes, also agreed with this opinion.
See also
- Paddy Conneely (died 11 September 1851), Irish piper.
- Patsy Touhey (1863-1925), piper
- Johnny Doran (c.1907-9 January 1950), piper
Sources
- Famous Pipers who flourished principally in the second half of the nineteenth century Chapter 21 in Irish Minstrels and Musicians, by Capt. Francis O'Neill, 1913.
