I was a young lad when I arrived in Doolin, Co. Clare, on a bicycle in 1972. O'Connor's was a small pub then and tourists were scarce. I never heard a trad session before and I stayed for three weeks. I met the famous Russell family of Micho, Packie and Gus. Micho taught me my first tune on the tin whistle, a jig called The Tenpenny Bit.
Not long after that, I spent a summer in London where, in The White Hart, Fulham, I heard Raymond Roland, Liam Farrell and other greats of the London trad scene.
I then worked for a few years in the Cork area where I began learning a few tunes and going to sessions in the city where I heard Jackie Daly and Seamus Creagh a few times.
Back home again in Hacketstown, Co. Carlow, I sought out sessions in the counties around me. The one that influenced me the most was Clancy's of Athy, Co. Kildare, where I heard Martin Hanly (flute), Tom Ahearne (fiddle) and John Campion (accordion). They were wonderful together.
I married Ann in 1980. (We met at a session in Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow). She is from Munny, outside Tullow, Co. Carlow. Since the early '80s, we have lived in Tullow and we had four sons.
Ann is the proud possessor of a button accordion which resides in its case. She threatens to take it out some day but I fear that golf will win out!
My guitar-playing son, Eoin, returned on holiday from Canada, intent on recording a duet with me at home. We purchased a mic and two stools and thought we were in the recording business. Thankfully, we discovered Sláine Recording Studios of sound engineer/musician Emmet O'Connor (outside Tullow) who guided us down the right path.
Thank you for stopping by my site. I am very excited about the release of my album.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Contact: [email protected]
Facebook: John Duffy Music
John
A pensive whistle player