Padraig O'Keeffe
Encyclopedia
Padraig O'Keeffe (1887 – 1963) 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. The area, part of the Sliabh Luachra
region, was well-versed in music and Padraig was taught to play the fiddle
by his uncle, Cal. He went to Dublin to train as a national school teacher and on qualifying returned to teach in his father's old school in 1915. He was not happy in the job and left about 1920. The remainder of his life was spent teaching and playing the fiddle
in his distinctive style. He also composed a number of tunes including Johhny Cope, a six-part variation on a traditional Celtic melody. He frequently played in Jack Lyon's pub in Scartaglen. Among his pupils were Denis Murphy
, his sister Julia Clifford
and Johnny O'Leary. His music was collected in 1947-49 by Seamus Ennis
and later by Seamus MacMathuna. These recordings were broadcast on Radio Éireann (RTÉ), and later re-used by the BBC in 1952, bringing him wide fame. The 1940s recordings were later issued on a CD "Padraig O'Keeffe: The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master" in 1993. He is considered the most influential player of the Munster
style in the 20th century.
Since 1993 the "Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival" has been held in Castleisland in Kerry. There is no great consistency in the spelling of the anglicised version of his name. For example Topic issued "Kerry Fiddles" (1993) by Padraig O'Keefe, Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford (one "f"). RTÉ issued "The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master" by Padraig O'Keeffe (two "f"s).
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...
.
O'Keeffe was born in Glountane, Castleisland
Castleisland
Castleisland is a town and commercial centre in County Kerry in south west Ireland. The town is renowned for the width of its main street. Castleisland has a population of 2,170....
, 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...
,into a large family where his father was the local national school headmaster. He was reared by his maternal grandparents. The area, part of the Sliabh Luachra
Sliabh Luachra
Sliabh Luachra is a region in Munster, Ireland, located around the River Blackwater, on the County Cork/County Kerry/County Limerick borderland.-Music and literature:...
region, was well-versed in music and Padraig was taught to play the 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 his uncle, Cal. He went to Dublin to train as a national school teacher and on qualifying returned to teach in his father's old school in 1915. He was not happy in the job and left about 1920. The remainder of his life was spent teaching and playing the 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...
in his distinctive style. He also composed a number of tunes including Johhny Cope, a six-part variation on a traditional Celtic melody. He frequently played in Jack Lyon's pub in Scartaglen. Among his pupils were Denis Murphy
Denis Murphy (Irish musician)
Denis Murphy was an Irish fiddler and noted traditional musician.Murphy was born in Lisheen, Gneeveguilla, County Kerry one of eight children of Bill and Mainie 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...
, 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...
and Johnny O'Leary. His music was collected in 1947-49 by Seamus Ennis
Séamus Ennis
Séamus Ennis was an Irish piper, singer and folk-song collector.- Early years :In 1908 James Ennis, Séamus's father, was in a pawn-shop in London. Ennis bought a bag of small pieces of Uilleann pipes. They were made in the early nineteenth century by Coyne of Thomas Street in Dublin. James worked...
and later by Seamus MacMathuna. These recordings were broadcast on Radio Éireann (RTÉ), and later re-used by the BBC in 1952, bringing him wide fame. The 1940s recordings were later issued on a CD "Padraig O'Keeffe: The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master" in 1993. He is considered the most influential player of the Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
style in the 20th century.
Since 1993 the "Patrick O'Keeffe Traditional Music Festival" has been held in Castleisland in Kerry. There is no great consistency in the spelling of the anglicised version of his name. For example Topic issued "Kerry Fiddles" (1993) by Padraig O'Keefe, Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford (one "f"). RTÉ issued "The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master" by Padraig O'Keeffe (two "f"s).