Fergus O'Byrne
Encyclopedia
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
-Canadian folk musician, best known as a member of the popular Irish-Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
band trio Ryan's Fancy
Ryan's Fancy
Ryan’s Fancy was a musical group active from the 1960s until the 1980s, all three of whose members were Irish immigrants to Canada.-Early years:...
, and as a banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, concertina
Concertina
A concertina is a free-reed musical instrument, like the various accordions and the harmonica. It has a bellows and buttons typically on both ends of it. When pressed, the buttons travel in the same direction as the bellows, unlike accordion buttons which travel perpendicularly to it...
and bodhrán
Bodhrán
The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
player.
Biography
O'Byrne was born in Dublin, IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. In the late 1960s, he emigrated to Toronto, Canada, where he met Dermot O’Reilly, Ralph O'Brien and Gary Kavanagh and performed as a member of the The Sons of Erin band. When The Sons of Erin parted ways, O'Byrne, Kavanagh and O'Reilly completed their remaining tour commitments as O'Reilly's Men and later formed Sullivan's Gypsies with Don Sullivan.
In 1971, O'Byrne moved to St. John’s
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
with the rest of the trio of Ryan's Fancy to begin what was to become a very recognizable music icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
in the traditional Irish
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
for Newfoundland.
In 1983 the band broke up, and O'Byrne started a solo and freelance career, touring throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, and Hong Kong.
In 1987 O'Byrne graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
with a degree in Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, then serving on the Board of Directors of the St. John's Folk Arts Council and the programming committee of the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival in St. John's.
He became a member of the band Tickle Harbour, which won three awards at the 1999 Newfoundland Music Industry Association Awards. http://www.singsong.nfld.com/cat5.html
O'Byrne performed regularly with Dermot O'Reilly, one of his former Ryan's Fancy bandmates, until O'Reilly's death in February 2007.
O'Byrne currently performs as part of a duo with Jim Payne
Jim Payne (folk singer)
Jim Payne is a Newfoundland folk singer, best known for performing and recording many of the traditional sea shanties of Newfoundland culture. He also composed the song "Wave Over Wave" with Janis Spence and founded the record label ....
, as a member of the band A Crowd of Bold Sharemen, and with his son, Fergus Brown-O'Byrne. He also facilitates a program to encourage youth participation in music, under the auspices of the St. John's Folk Arts Council; this program features a yearly workshop and concert for young traditional musicians known as "Young Folk at the Hall."
Discography
- Ryan's Fancy—What a Time! A Forty Year Celebration (2011)
- Jim Payne and Fergus O'Byrne—How Good Is Me Life! (2007)
- A Crowd of Bold Sharemen—Self-titled (2002)
- Ryan's Fancy—Songs from the Shows (2001)
- Tickle Harbour—Battery Included (1998)
- Various Artists—We Will Remain: Patriotic Songs of Newfoundland (1998)
- Jim Payne and Fergus O'Byrne—Wave Over Wave (1995)
- Various Artists—Another Time: The Songs of Newfoundland (1991)
- Ryan's Fancy—Irish Love Songs (1982)
- Ryan's Fancy—Dance Around This One (1981)
- Ryan's Fancy—Sea People (1980)
- Ryan's Fancy—A Time with Ryan's Fancy (1979)
- Ryan's Fancy—Brand New Songs (1977)
- Ryan's Fancy—Ryan's Fancy Live (1975)
- Ryan's Fancy—Times to Remember (1973)
- Ryan's Fancy—Newfoundland Drinking Songs (1973)
- Ryan's Fancy—Looking Back (1972)
- Ryan's Fancy—Dark Island (1971)
- Ryan's Fancy—An Irish Night at the Black Knight Lounge (1971)
- Ryan's Fancy—Curraghs, Minstrels, Rocks & Whiskey (1971)
- Sullivan's Gypsies—The Leprechaun
- Sullivan's Gypsies—Ryan's Fancy sung by Sullivan's Gypsies (1970)
Guest appearances
- Glenn Vincent Breen—Over the Sea—backing vocals, "Haul Her Along" (1998)
- Vince Collins—Lifting Out the Stove (2002)
- Jim Fidler—Gypsy—backing vocals and bodhran, "Downtown Girl" (1995)
- Fine Crowd—Sucker for Good Company (1998)
- Great Big Sea—The Hard & The Easy -- "Captain Kidd" (2006)
- Great Big Sea—Turn (1999)
- Jim Payne—Empty Nets (1992)
- The Punters—Will You Wait—5-string banjo, "Here's to Life" (2000)
- The Punters—Said She Couldn't Dance—Backing Vocals, "Jolly Jack" (1998)
- Shanneyganock—The Long Haul—concertina, "Sammy's Bar" (1998)
- Christina Smith—Fiddle Me This (1994)
- Christina Smith and Jean Hewson—Like Ducks! (1998)
- Minnie White—The Hills of Home (1994)
Awards
2004 - Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award awarded to Ryan's FancyRyan's Fancy
Ryan’s Fancy was a musical group active from the 1960s until the 1980s, all three of whose members were Irish immigrants to Canada.-Early years:...
by the East Coast Music Association