Proinsias Ó Maonaigh
Encyclopedia
Proinsias Ó Maonaigh or Francie Mooney (1922 - 28 March 2006) was a fiddler
from Gweedore
(Gaoth Dobhair), County Donegal
, Ireland
. He is known for his distinguished fiddle playing and his unique and vast contribution to Irish music and culture.
He married a Gaoth Dobhair woman, Kitty Ní Ghallchóir, and they have three children: Gearóid, Mairéad
and Áine (or Anna).
Francie was also a keen Gaelic football
er and contributed greatly to the local and county GAA
.
He is credited for such works as "Francie Mooney's German", "Francie Mooney's Mazourka" and "Francie Mooney's Highland".
His most famous song was written about his hometown Gaoth Dobhair, called "Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair
". It has been performed by singers such as Altan, Paul Brady
, Brian Kennedy
and Clannad.
He also wrote pantomimes for the local theater, and translated many songs from English into Irish.
In 2003 he was honoured by the Oireachtas
when he was the president of the Letterkenny
event.
Proinsías Ó Maonaigh died on 28 March 2006, after a brief illness. His funeral was one of the biggest ever seen in County Donegal
, and acts such as Skara Brae, Altan, Paul Brady
and Clannad paid tribute to him at the requiem mass in Gaoth Dobhair.
On 22 November 2007, a concert honouring him was held at the opening of the new theatre in Dunlewey. The tribute was conducted entirely in Irish, and included both instrumentals and songs he had composed or translated, plus some of his own favorites. There were several instrumental sets, a comic performance, and some dancing. The chorus consisted of over 20 members (many of them family) and almost a dozen musicians.
, Clannad and Skara Brae.
His daughter Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
is the lead and founding member of internationally recognised group Altan. His son Gearóid is also well known locally for his musical talents, as well as his love of Irish traditional music. Gearóid and other family members, such as Ann Mooney, are also heavily involved in organizing musical events locally such as the world-famous Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy
. Francie's grandson Ciarán Ó Maonaigh is the recipient of the 2003 TG4
Musician Of The Year Award.
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's début solo album, 'Imeall' features a tune she wrote for her father entitled "An Fidleoir" (The Fiddler).
Fiddler
A fiddler is a person who plays a fiddle or violin.Fiddler may also refer to:*Fabrangen Fiddlers, an American musical group founded in 1971*Tupolev Tu-28 "Fiddler", a fighter aircraft*Fiddler , a DC Comics villain...
from Gweedore
Gweedore
Gweedore is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. Gweedore stretches some 16 miles from Meenaclady in the north to Crolly in the south and around 9 miles from Dunlewey in the east to Magheraclogher in the west, and...
(Gaoth Dobhair), County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic 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,...
. He is known for his distinguished fiddle playing and his unique and vast contribution to Irish music and culture.
Early life
Born in Gaoth Dobhair in 1922 as the youngest of eight children, he was a son of famous musician from the area Róise Mhór who would have played with an Píobaire Mór Tarlach Mac Suibhne. It was an Irish speaking household and traditional music was nurtured within the home and they were taught many Irish songs.Career
He taught at Luinneach primary school in Gaoth Dobhair from 1967 until his retirement in 1996. He also taught many locals how to play the fiddle up to the age of 82.He married a Gaoth Dobhair woman, Kitty Ní Ghallchóir, and they have three children: Gearóid, Mairéad
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is an Irish fiddler and the lead vocalist for the Irish traditional band Altan.-Biography:Ní Mhaonaigh grew up in Gweedore , County Donegal, on the northwest coast of Ireland....
and Áine (or Anna).
Francie was also a keen Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er and contributed greatly to the local and county GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
.
He is credited for such works as "Francie Mooney's German", "Francie Mooney's Mazourka" and "Francie Mooney's Highland".
His most famous song was written about his hometown Gaoth Dobhair, called "Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair
Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair
"Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair", is a song in the Irish language written by Irish musician Proinsias Ó Maonaigh, about his hometown of Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal. It translates as "the green glens of Gweedore"...
". It has been performed by singers such as Altan, Paul Brady
Paul Brady
Paul Joseph Brady is an Irish singer-songwriter, whose work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age...
, Brian Kennedy
Brian Kennedy (singer)
Brian Edward Patrick Kennedy is an Irish singer-songwriter and author, known for his ballads, and has represented Ireland at Eurovision 2006. He is the younger brother of musician Bap Kennedy.-Personal life:...
and Clannad.
He also wrote pantomimes for the local theater, and translated many songs from English into Irish.
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
when he was the president of the Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
event.
Proinsías Ó Maonaigh died on 28 March 2006, after a brief illness. His funeral was one of the biggest ever seen in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and acts such as Skara Brae, Altan, Paul Brady
Paul Brady
Paul Joseph Brady is an Irish singer-songwriter, whose work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age...
and Clannad paid tribute to him at the requiem mass in Gaoth Dobhair.
On 22 November 2007, a concert honouring him was held at the opening of the new theatre in Dunlewey. The tribute was conducted entirely in Irish, and included both instrumentals and songs he had composed or translated, plus some of his own favorites. There were several instrumental sets, a comic performance, and some dancing. The chorus consisted of over 20 members (many of them family) and almost a dozen musicians.
His legacy
He was instrumental in the success of local musicians such as EnyaEnya
Enya is an Irish singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Enya is an approximate transliteration of how Eithne is pronounced in the Donegal dialect of the Irish language, her native tongue.She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad before leaving to...
, Clannad and Skara Brae.
His daughter Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is an Irish fiddler and the lead vocalist for the Irish traditional band Altan.-Biography:Ní Mhaonaigh grew up in Gweedore , County Donegal, on the northwest coast of Ireland....
is the lead and founding member of internationally recognised group Altan. His son Gearóid is also well known locally for his musical talents, as well as his love of Irish traditional music. Gearóid and other family members, such as Ann Mooney, are also heavily involved in organizing musical events locally such as the world-famous Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy
Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy
Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy is a traditional music winter school held annually since 1994 in memory of Belfast flautist Frankie Kennedy in Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Ireland....
. Francie's grandson Ciarán Ó Maonaigh is the recipient of the 2003 TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
Musician Of The Year Award.
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's début solo album, 'Imeall' features a tune she wrote for her father entitled "An Fidleoir" (The Fiddler).