Seán Ryan (Irish fiddler)
Encyclopedia
Seán Ryan was a famous Irish master fiddle
r and whistler
.
Ryan was born at Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland. He won the Oireachtas in 1954, the Senior All Ireland Fiddle Championship in 1955 and 1956, and the All Ireland Duet Championship title with P.J. Moloney in 1956. Sean had 3 sisters and 6 brothers. His 3 sisters and 2 of his brothers have also died. Sean came up from Nenagh to Garryhinch,Portarlington where he stayed with his grandmother and it was while he was living with his grandmother that he met his 1st wife Anna Dunne. The couple got married in Nov.1945 and settled in Cloneyhurke. They had 7 children and 5 out of the 7 live around the Cloneyhurke area to date. Sean composed some music in Cloneyhurke. Sean and Anna's home in Cloneyhurke became a talking point with the locals as many famous musicians eg.Barney Mc Kenna, Joe Burke came to their home to play music with Sean. Sadly Sean's wife Anna died in March 1957.Sean married his 2nd wife Kathleen in 1966 and they settled in Rosenallis and they had 3 children. He composed most of his tunes here, up to the time of his passing Sadly Sean died on 15th.Nov.1985. But his music lives on. Two books of Seán's compositions were published by his wife Kathleen and his son Brian. In 2011 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his passing a double CD of his recordings was published by Kathleen.
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 whistler
Tin whistle
The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and...
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Ryan was born at Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland. He won the Oireachtas in 1954, the Senior All Ireland Fiddle Championship in 1955 and 1956, and the All Ireland Duet Championship title with P.J. Moloney in 1956. Sean had 3 sisters and 6 brothers. His 3 sisters and 2 of his brothers have also died. Sean came up from Nenagh to Garryhinch,Portarlington where he stayed with his grandmother and it was while he was living with his grandmother that he met his 1st wife Anna Dunne. The couple got married in Nov.1945 and settled in Cloneyhurke. They had 7 children and 5 out of the 7 live around the Cloneyhurke area to date. Sean composed some music in Cloneyhurke. Sean and Anna's home in Cloneyhurke became a talking point with the locals as many famous musicians eg.Barney Mc Kenna, Joe Burke came to their home to play music with Sean. Sadly Sean's wife Anna died in March 1957.Sean married his 2nd wife Kathleen in 1966 and they settled in Rosenallis and they had 3 children. He composed most of his tunes here, up to the time of his passing Sadly Sean died on 15th.Nov.1985. But his music lives on. Two books of Seán's compositions were published by his wife Kathleen and his son Brian. In 2011 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his passing a double CD of his recordings was published by Kathleen.
Discography (Incomplete)
- Traditional Music of Ireland vol.1. Avoca Record Co. 33 AV 121, 1960. With P.J.Moloney.
- Traditional Music of Ireland vol.2. Avoca Record Co. 33 AV 134. With Peter Carberry.
- "Port Gael-Linn" - Track 13 on Milestone At The Garden: Irish Fiddle Masters From The 78 RPM Era
- Back Home to the Cliffs of Moher. As "Seán Ryan, Kathleen Ryan and Pat Lyons" aka "Seán Ryan Trio". Outlet Records SOLP 1012, 1972. Reissued on CD as Outlet PTICD 1012. Contents: St. Andrews ; The swallow -- Reavy's ; The brook -- Sliabh bloom ; Frost is all over -- Charlie Mulvhill's ; McCollam's -- Tommy Coen's reels -- The eel in the sink ; Larry Redigan's -- Providence ; Trip to Nenagh -- Anne Sheehy's ; The stage -- Pipe on the hob ; Coleman's -- Kiss me Kate ; Sean Ryan's -- Thornton's ; Tommy Maguire's -- Fahy's jigs.