Paddy Berry
Encyclopedia
Paddy Berry is a traditional Irish singer from Wexford
, Ireland
. Born and raised in Scar, Duncormick
, Paddy Berry now lives in Drinagh
, on the outskirts of Wexford Town. Paddy is a well known performer of local Wexford ballad
s, as well as a songwriter and song and folklore
collector. He has made an undaunted contribution to the revival of traditional music, song and dance
in Ireland over the past fifty years.
Paddy has been a revered member Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann
for nearly five decades and has been involved in various cultural education initiatives. His labour of love has been recognised by fellow musicians and also earned Paddy a special lifetime achievement award the president of Ireland, Mary McAleese
, in 2003.
Paddy Berry has published three recordings and two print collections of County Wexford Ballads.
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
, 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...
. Born and raised in Scar, Duncormick
Duncormick
Duncormick or Duncormac is a rural village and surrounding community located the R736 regional road in County Wexford, Ireland. At the 2002 census, it had a population of 503. The village is 11 miles from Wexford Town, close to the fishing village of Kilmore Quay which is one of the largest...
, Paddy Berry now lives in Drinagh
Drinagh
Drinagh is a village in County Cork, in the southwest of Ireland. It lies on the R637 road between the towns of Dunmanway and Skibbereen.Drinagh is a small village between Dunmanway and Drimoleague its has a tennis court, post office, three pubs, a hardware store, and a small factory.There is also...
, on the outskirts of Wexford Town. Paddy is a well known performer of local Wexford ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s, as well as a songwriter and song and folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
collector. He has made an undaunted contribution to the revival of traditional music, song and dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
in Ireland over the past fifty years.
Paddy has been a revered member Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the primary Irish organisation dedicated to the promotion of the music, song, dance and the language of Ireland. The name of the organisation is often abbreviated to Comhaltas or CCÉ...
for nearly five decades and has been involved in various cultural education initiatives. His labour of love has been recognised by fellow musicians and also earned Paddy a special lifetime achievement award the president of Ireland, Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
, in 2003.
Paddy Berry has published three recordings and two print collections of County Wexford Ballads.
Publications
- Wexford Ballads. Foillstheoiri Cois Slaine, 1982
- More Wexford Ballads. Wexford. 1987
Recordings
- "Paddy Berry sings Wexford Ballads" (1985)
- "Sing Us a Song Paddy" (1999)
- "Sing Again Paddy" (2005)