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Gerry O'Connor (fiddler)

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Gerry O'Connor
Birth nameGerry O'Connor
BornDundalk, County Louth, Northern Ireland
GenresIrish traditional
Folk
Celtic music
Occupation(s)Musician, producer, composer, Music teacher
Years active1987
LabelsLughnasa Music
Sony Music
Claddagh Records
Gael Linn
Websitegerryoconnor.net

Gerry "Fiddle" O'Connor (born in Dundalk, County Louth, Northern Ireland) is a traditional Irish fiddle player, and founding member of bands, Skylark and La Lúgh.

Career

O'Connor's family have played fiddle for at least four generations, Gerry learning his music from his mother, Rose O'Connor, and also from hand-written manuscripts passed down through the family.

He later came under the influence of Sligo fiddler John Joe Gardiner. Gerry's performances concentrate on long forgotten tunes from his home area in the North East of Ireland, many of which were recorded on his 2004 album, Journeyman. From 2005-10 Gerry was Lecturer in Traditional Music Performance at Dundalk Institute of Technology during which time he was awarded with MA by Research on the Dance Music of Oriel under the supervision of Dr Fintan Vallely.

In addition to his solo performances and recordings, O'Connor is a founding member of two bands: Skylark (who have recorded four albums) and with Eithne Ní Uallacháin in La Lúgh (whose album Brighid's Kiss was voted album of the year in 1996 by readers of Irish Music Magazine). He has recently released album Oirialla with his new band featuring the Music and Song of South Ulster.[1]

Gerry has also toured and recorded with the Irish Baroque Orchestra and is the compiler and publisher of “I have Travelled this Country” a book with CD ROM documenting Cathal McConnell’s Boys of the Lough formidable collection of traditional song. With Breton Guitarist Gilles le Bigott. This Irish Breton duo recorded a live album In Concert in DZ (Douarananez) and have toured together each year since 2006.

In September 2013 Gerry joined The Irish Rovers.[2] for their "Farewell to Roving Tours of eastern Canada and USA will be a guest with the band on their New Zealand and Hawaii tour in September 2014.

Gerry is also a qualified violin maker and works as restorer and supplier of fine instruments when at home. He was Céilí Band Music Consultant on the film "Boys and Girls of County Clare" (Lionsgate) 2003 worked as and Fiddle Coach with Colm Meaney, Andrea Corr, Bernard Hill and Partick Bergin.

Recently Gerry has been working with Fintal Vallely on the development of "Compánach", an intimate acoustic recital of music and song which interprets the nature, scope and quality of Irish Traditional music as described in the encyclopedia Companion to Irish Traditional Music.

Personal life

Gerry married singer Eithne Ní Uallacháin.[2] Their eldest son, Dónal is a fiddler, producer and recording studio owner, while their second son Feilimí is a factual television producer with Stirling Films and Television Productions Belfast.[3]

Discography

Active Projects
  • Journeyman, 2004 (Lughnasa Music LUGCD962)
  • Oirialla, 2011 (Lughnasa Music LUGCD965)
  • White Raven: The Place where Life Began, 2006
  • In Concert, with Gilles le Bigot, 2005 (Lughnasa Music LUGCD963)
  • Jig Away the Donkey, 2011 (Lughnasa Music LUGCD964) * Oirialla, 2012 (Lughnasa Music LUGCD965)
  • "Merry Merry Time of Year", 2011 (The Irish Rovers IRD1111)
With Skylark
  • Skylark, 1987 (Claddagh Records)
  • All of It, 1989 (Claddagh Records)
  • Light and Shade, 1992 (Claddagh Records)
  • Raining Bicycles, 1996 (Claddagh Records)
With Lá Lugh
  • Bilingua, 2014 (Gael Linn)
  • Cosa gan Bhróga, 1987 (Gael Linn) released on CD 2012
  • Lá Lugh, 1991 (Claddagh Records) re-released 2011 on Lughnasa Music LUGCD960
  • Brighid's Kiss, 1996 (Lughnasa Music)
  • Senex Puer, 1998 (Sony Music Entertainment) Re Released on IML 2010
Other Albums
  • Musita, 1987–94, 1995 (Ribium)
  • The Celts Rise Again, 1990 (Green Linnet)
  • Bringing it all back Home, 1991
  • The Rough Guide to Irish Music, 1996 (World Music Network)
  • Tacsí, 2000 (Vertical Records)
  • Rogha Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, 2008 (Oidhreacht an Chláir OAC-CD003, Selected)
  • Songs and People of the Sea, 2009 (Greentrax Recordings)

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Eithne Ní Uallacháin biography
  3. ^ Ceol ón Chlann - Stirling Television archive
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