Honouring a musician of great influence

Tulla fiddle player Paddy Canny has long been accepted as one of the greatest ever traditional Irish fiddle players.

TG4 introduced their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 to be presented annually to a musician who had a profound influence on the playing, preservation and handing on of Irish traditional music. Paddy Canny was the first recipient that showed his standing among musicians.

A native of Glendree, Paddy, who died in 2008, was one of the founding members of the Tulla Céilí Band. He was part of the initial group brought together by Teresa Tubridy and Bert McNulty to compete at Féili Luimni and the band grew from there. Paddy was with them when they won two All-Ireland céilí band competitions and he also won a solo All-Ireland fiddle championship.

He played all over the country and toured the United States. While there, he played a concert at the world famous Carnegie Hall. He only made one solo recording in 1997 but had previously featured on “ All Ireland Champions” with PJ Hayes, Peadar O’Loughlin and Bridie Lafferty.

As their contribution to Heritage Week, Tulla History Group have organised a talk entitled “ Paddy Canny, A Man of Tradition, A Musician of Influence”. This will take place in The Courthouse, Tulla on Saturday, August 24 at 9pm.
Gust speaker will be well known Ennis musician, Kieran Hanrahan and presenter of ‘Céilí House’ on RTE Radio One.

The Tulla Céilí Band were not the only great band from Clare and chairman for the night will be John Lynch, leader of that other great musician tradition, The Kilfenora Céilí Band.
The night will finish with musical entertainment by Paddy’s grandchildren, Gearóid and Eimear Coughlan who are following on in their grandfather’s footsteps.