Top US honour for Séamus Connolly

An internationally renowned fiddle player and teacher from Killaloe will be honoured with 90 other outstanding Americans, including actress and humanitarian Mia Farrow, at a special gala ceremony on historic Ellis Island on Saturday, May 11.

Boston College’s Sullivan Artist-In-Residence Séamus A Connolly is to be recognised for his distinguished career as one of the world’s most respected Irish musicians. His artistry and his role as an educator has expanded the USA’s appreciation of traditional Irish music and culture.

The Ellis Island Medals of Honour are presented annually to American citizens from all walks of life, who have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to the country. Former recipients include six US presidents, Nobel prize-winners, athletes, artists and leaders of industry. Dr Regina M Benjamin (US surgeon general), legendary recording artist Dionne Warwick and US Representative Peter King will also be inducted this year.

The US Senate and House of Representatives officially recognise this ceremony and every year the recipients are listed in the Congressional Record.

Séamus Connolly is a brother of Martin, the all-Ireland accordeon player who resides in Ennis and Michael, who resides near Killaloe.

Séamus won the Irish National Fiddle Championship 10 times, a feat unequalled by any other musician. He was also the winner of the internationally acclaimed Fiddler of Dooney competition.

In addition to holding an endowed chair at Boston College and is the Sullivan Artist in Residence, he has directed the highly-acclaimed Gaelic Roots Summer School and Festival at Boston College from 1993 – 2003.  He now coordinates a Gaelic Roots Series of free concerts and lectures by visiting artists throughout the academic year.

In 1990, Seamus was awarded a Fellowship in Traditional Arts by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and was also awarded three master/apprenticeship grants for teaching Irish music. In 1999, Irish America Magazine selected Seamus as one of their Top 100 Irish-Americans.

In 2002, he was named Traditional Musician of the Year by The Irish Echo and was also inducted into the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Hall of Fame.

Séamus grew up in a home filled with music as both his parents and two brothers were musicians. He started playing the fiddle at 12 years of age. As a young musician he travelled throughout Ireland, meeting and playing with legends such as Paddy Canny, Sean Ryan, Willie Clancy, Martin Rochford, PJ Hayes, Leo Rowsome, Joe Dowd, Paddy O’Brien, Joe Burke, Paddy Carty, Padraig O’Keeffe, Junior Crehan, Bobby Casey, Denis Murphy and Cathal McConnell.

After joining the famous Kilfenora Céilí Band, he travelled throughout Ireland and Britain playing for dances, concerts, radio and television. Séamus travelled to the United States in 1972 as a member of the first Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) tour. In 1976 he emigrated there and settled in the Boston area.

Séamus has numerous recordings to his credit. His two solo CDs Notes from my Mind and Here and There were released by Green Linnet Records as was The Banks of the Shannon. He recorded The Boston Edge with the legendary accordionist Joe Derrane (2004 National Heritage Fellowship awardee) and John McGann, one of America’s national champion string players.