Composer of the year to be honoured by Gradam Ceoil

A CLARECASTLE-based musician is to be awarded with the TG4 Traditional Award for Composer of the Year this weekend.
Finbarr Dwyer comes from a well-known musical dynasty and is himself an exceptionally gifted musician, whose creativity has extended into composing tunes that are melodically rich, widely played and highly regarded among musicians. Originally from Castletownbere in County Cork, Finbarr now lives in Clarecastle.
His father, John, played the fiddle similar in style to the east Galway fiddler Paddy Kelly and both of his parents played the accordion. According to Finbarr, his father met lots of musicians from different counties when he spent a couple of years in Spike Island and this expanded his repertoire greatly. Growing up in Eyries, Castletownbere, he was a huge influence on all his children which included John, Finbarr, the late whistle player Michael, composer and fiddler Richard, Robert, accordion player and singers Mary, Kitty and Margaret. His mother, Kathleen, was also a well-known talented singer.
Multi-instrumentalist Finbarr is regarded by many as a musician’s musician and is an accordion player of outstanding ability.
He was only in his first year at boarding school in St Brendan’s School, Killarney, when he first started composing. During a school holiday, to alleviate boredom, he locked himself in the billiard room and composed his first two tunes.
He claims that the art of composition is imagination and likens it to a poet writing or being inspired by a scene in nature. The Berehaven, and Farewell to Cailroe are two such tunes as is The Waltz of the Birds which was inspired by a chaffinch singing on Christmas 1968. As he says himself, “I didn’t invent music, it was there before me”. He adds that he’s always delighted to hear people playing one of his own compositions.
One of his great idols was the Paddy O’Brien from Nenagh who himself was a great composer but he would readily admit that there is a lot of fiddle playing in his own music.
Having emigrated in March 1966, Finbarr worked as a secondary school teacher in England for 10 years. He played regularly in the thriving pub scene in London with musicians such as Raymond Roland, Liam Farrell, Bobby Casey, John Bowe and Martin Byrnes and describes that scene as “booming”.
A creative genius with many strings to his bow, he has also been heavily influenced by continental accordion music, plays piano, fiddle, the electric guitar and enjoys playing Country and Western. In recent times, he has returned to public performance after a break of 17 years and his beautiful, fluid and expressive accordion playing is a joy to listen to. He released several albums on Belfast’s Outlet label and his compositions can be heard on numerous recordings.
The awards are co-hosted by TG4’s Dáithí Ó Sé and Aoife Ní Thuairisg and performers include the Fidil, Seán Potts, Paddy Glacken, Sean Óg Potts, Seán McKiernan, The Boys of the Lough, Liam O’Flynn, John and Finbarr Dwyer and renowned fiddler Martin Hayes.
Those joining in the event to present awards include musicians Martin Hayes, Dermot McLaughlin, Mary Bergin and Seamús Ó Beaglaoich, singer Áine Uí Cheallaigh and TG4 ard-stiúrthóir Pól Ó Gallchóir. The award ceremony will be aired on Easter Sunday at 9.30pm. 
The TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2010 recipients are: Gradam Ceoil, Seán McKiernan; Ceoltóir Óg (Young Musician) Aidan O’Donnell; Gradam Saoil (Hall of Fame) Seán Potts; Cumadóir (Composer) John and Finbarr Dwyer;  Amhránaí (Singer) Cathal McConnell; Gradam na gCeoltóirí (Musicians’ Award) Muiris Ó Rocháin.