Denis Murphy (Irish musician)
Encyclopedia
Denis Murphy was an Irish
fiddle
r and noted traditional musician.
Murphy was born in Lisheen, Gneeveguilla
, County Kerry
one of eight children of Bill and Mainie (née Corbett) Murphy. His father played fife
, flute
and fiddle
and had a fife and drum band. It was a house where music was played a lot with neighbours calling in. He and his sister Julia Clifford
were taught fiddle
by Padraig O'Keeffe
. He later played with the Lisheen Fife and Drum Band.
Murphy emigrated to the United States
, and in 1942 married Julie Mary Sheehan. They returned often to Ireland
and returned permanently to Lisheen in 1965. While in the United States he played with the Ballinmore Ceili Band, with such players as Paddy Killoran
, James Morrison
, Andy McGann and Lad O'Beirne.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
r and noted traditional musician.
Murphy was born in Lisheen, Gneeveguilla
Gneeveguilla
Gneeveguilla, officially Gneevegullia , is a small village in the Sliabh Luachra region of South East County Kerry, Ireland. It lies about east of Killarney, close to the County Kerry/County Cork border....
, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
one of eight children of Bill and Mainie (née Corbett) Murphy. His father played fife
Fife (musical instrument)
A fife is a small, high-pitched, transverse flute that is similar to the piccolo, but louder and shriller due to its narrower bore. The fife originated in medieval Europe and is often used in military and marching bands. Someone who plays the fife is called a fifer...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
and fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
and had a fife and drum band. It was a house where music was played a lot with neighbours calling in. He and his sister Julia Clifford
Julia Clifford
Julia Clifford was a fiddler and Irish traditional musician.Julia Murphy was born at Lisheen, Gneeveguilla, County Kerry, part of an area in west Munster known as Sliabh Luachra one of eight children. Her father Bill played flute, fife, and fiddle and had a fife and drum band...
were taught fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
by Padraig O'Keeffe
Padraig O'Keeffe
Padraig O'Keeffe was a noted Irish traditional musician.O'Keeffe was born in Glountane, Castleisland, County Kerry,into a large family where his father was the local national school headmaster. He was reared by his maternal grandparents...
. He later played with the Lisheen Fife and Drum Band.
Murphy emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and in 1942 married Julie Mary Sheehan. They returned often to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and returned permanently to Lisheen in 1965. While in the United States he played with the Ballinmore Ceili Band, with such players as Paddy Killoran
Paddy Killoran
Paddy Killoran was an Irish musician.Killoran was born near Ballymote, County Sligo, Ireland...
, James Morrison
James Morrison (fiddler)
James or Jim Morrison , known as "The Professor", was a notable South Sligo-style Irish fiddler.Morrison was born in 1893 near Riverstown, County Sligo at the townland of Drumfin...
, Andy McGann and Lad O'Beirne.
Discography
- Denis Murphy: Music from Sliabh Luachra, solo, RTÉ CD 183
- The Star Above the Garter, with sister Julia Clifford, Claddagh Records CC5CD
- Music from Sliabh Luachra Volume 1: Kerry Fiddles, with Pádraig O'Keeffe & Julia Clifford, Topic 12T 309 / TSCD309 and Ossian OSSCD10