Paddy Tunney
Encyclopedia
Paddy Tunney was an Irish traditional singer
, poet, writer, raconteur, lilter
and songwriter. He was affectionately known as the Man of Songs.
to Irish
parents, Patrick Tunney from Mollybreen in County Fermanagh
and Brigid Gallagher from Rusheen near Pettigo
in County Donegal
. His mother came from a strong musical background going back several generations in her parents' families and had a huge stock of traditional songs. Within a few weeks of his birth the family returned to Ireland to his maternal grandfather's cottage in Rusheen. His grandfather, Michael Gallagher, was his first song teacher and Paddy recalled learning his first song, "The Lark in the Morning", from him at the age of four. The following year the family moved a few miles across the border and settled in the townland of Garvery, in the parish of Mulleek, in County Fermanagh. This is why Paddy considered himself as being from Fermanagh. He always had an interest in singing and throughout his childhood and teenage years he learned traditional songs from his mother, who for the rest of his life remained the biggest influence on his style and repertoire.
, Jimmy Steele, Joe Cahill
, Gerry Adams Sr.
, Frank Morris and Arthur Kearney. On his release he went to Dublin and studied to be a health inspector. He worked for a time with Dublin Corporation and Kerry County Council before settling in Donegal in 1950. He married Julia Bradley from Manorcunningham
in 1955. From this time he began attending Fleadhanna and later adjudicated at them all over the country. He attended many seminars and workshops associated with traditional music. He served for nearly 20 years at the annual Scoil Éigse, where he passed on his songs and his singing techniques to young singers.
He transferred to Galway for seven years before returning to Letterkenny in 1972. He began broadcasting, first for Radio Éireann
and later for BBC, working with Seán Mac Réamoinn
and Seán O’Boyle. He later
collaborated with Ciarán Mac Mathúna on RTE
in the 1980s, and in the new century was the subject of a TG4
series Sé Mo Laoch. He also featured in a BBC award-winning documentary.
He died on 6 December 2002 and his funeral took place in Letterkenny
, County Donegal.
Folk music of Ireland
The folk music of Ireland is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres in Ireland.-History:...
, poet, writer, raconteur, lilter
Lilting
Lilting is a form of traditional singing common in the Gaelic speaking areas of Ireland and Scotland. It goes under many names, and is sometimes referred to as "mouth music", diddling, jigging, chin music or cheek music), puirt a beul in Scottish Gaelic, Canterach, or portaireacht bhéil in Irish...
and songwriter. He was affectionately known as the Man of Songs.
Early life
Tunney was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
parents, Patrick Tunney from Mollybreen in County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
and Brigid Gallagher from Rusheen near Pettigo
Pettigo
Pettigo is a small village on the border of County Donegal, Republic of Ireland and County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is bisected by the Termon River which is part of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland...
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...
. His mother came from a strong musical background going back several generations in her parents' families and had a huge stock of traditional songs. Within a few weeks of his birth the family returned to Ireland to his maternal grandfather's cottage in Rusheen. His grandfather, Michael Gallagher, was his first song teacher and Paddy recalled learning his first song, "The Lark in the Morning", from him at the age of four. The following year the family moved a few miles across the border and settled in the townland of Garvery, in the parish of Mulleek, in County Fermanagh. This is why Paddy considered himself as being from Fermanagh. He always had an interest in singing and throughout his childhood and teenage years he learned traditional songs from his mother, who for the rest of his life remained the biggest influence on his style and repertoire.
Education and later life
He attended Derryhollow NS and later Ballyshannon Technical School. His first job was as a forester and subsequently he worked as a County Council road worker. During the Second World War he became involved with the IRA and in the summer of 1943 was sentenced to seven years penal servitude for smuggling explosives. The regime in the Crumlin Road Jail at the time was particularly brutal and the four years that he spent there were made a big impression on him. Fellow IRA prisoners at the time included Hugh McAteerHugh McAteer
Hugh McAteer was a volunteer in, and leader of, the Irish Republican Army.A bookkeeper by profession, McAteer was from Derry. He served as IRA Chief of Staff from 1941 until 12 October 1942, when he was captured and arrested by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. He was later sentenced to 15 years...
, Jimmy Steele, Joe Cahill
Joe Cahill
Joe Cahill was a prominent Irish republican and former chief of staff of the Provisional Irish Republican Army .- Background :In May 1920, Cahill was born in Divis Street in West Belfast, Ireland, where his parents had been neighbours of the Scottish-born Irish revolutionary James Connolly.Cahill...
, Gerry Adams Sr.
Gerry Adams Sr.
Gerry Adams Sr. was a Belfast Irish Republican Army volunteer who took part in its Northern Campaign in the 1940s....
, Frank Morris and Arthur Kearney. On his release he went to Dublin and studied to be a health inspector. He worked for a time with Dublin Corporation and Kerry County Council before settling in Donegal in 1950. He married Julia Bradley from Manorcunningham
Manorcunningham
Manorcunningham, or Manor is a small village and townland in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located 7 kilometers from Letterkenny on the main road to Derry...
in 1955. From this time he began attending Fleadhanna and later adjudicated at them all over the country. He attended many seminars and workshops associated with traditional music. He served for nearly 20 years at the annual Scoil Éigse, where he passed on his songs and his singing techniques to young singers.
He transferred to Galway for seven years before returning to Letterkenny in 1972. He began broadcasting, first for Radio Éireann
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
and later for BBC, working with Seán Mac Réamoinn
Seán Mac Réamoinn
Seán Mac Réamoinn was an Irish journalist and broadcaster. He took a deep interest in Irish culture and language and religious affairs....
and Seán O’Boyle. He later
collaborated with Ciarán Mac Mathúna on RTE
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
in the 1980s, and in the new century was the subject of a 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....
series Sé Mo Laoch. He also featured in a BBC award-winning documentary.
He died on 6 December 2002 and his funeral took place in 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...
, County Donegal.
Discography
- The Lark in the MorningThe Lark in the Morning (album)The Lark in the Morning is an album by Liam Clancy, Tommy Makem, family and friends.It has the distinction of being the first album-length recording of Irish music to be recorded in Ireland. It was recorded by Diane Hamilton and Catherine Wright on portable equipment, between August and December...
, which also featured Liam Clancy, Tommy and many others. - A Wild Bee's Nest (1965)
- The Irish Edge (1966)
- Ireland her Own (1967) With Arthur Kearney. Also featuring Joe Tunney and Frank kelly.
- Where the Moorcocks Crow (1975)
- The Flowery Vale (1976)
- The Stone Fiddle (1981)
- Where the Linnets Sing (1992)
Books
Tunney wrote an autobiography, The Stone Fiddle: My Way to Traditional Song, which was published in Dublin in 1979. Other books include Where Songs Do Thunder, and Ulster Folk Tales for Children.Collector
He collected and sang many songs that have now become standards, including:- "Moorlough MaryThe Moorlough Shore-Synopsis:A young man praises the beauties of the countryside and the girl he has fallen in love with. She refuses his advances on the ground that she already loves a sailor. She will wait for her true love for seven years. In frustration the boy leaves his childhood home and sails away, still...
" - "Lough Erne Shore"
- "Craigie Hill"
- "The Green Fields of Canada"
- "Easter Snow"
- "As I Roved Out"
- "The Banks of Dunmore"
- "The Blackbird"
- "The Mountain Streams where the Moorcocks Crow"
- "Sheila Nee Iyer"
- "The Rambling Boys of Pleasure"
- "My Charming Buachaill Rua"
External links
- Paddy Tunney - The Man of Songs — biography from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí ÉireannComhaltas Ceoltóirí ÉireannComhaltas 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...
- Obituary