Paddy O’Brien – Curriculum Vitae

Born: September 13, 1945
Castlebarnagh, Daingean, County Offaly, Ireland

Awards

1969 Oireachtas Competition- sponsored by the Gaelic League

  • First Place—Solo Accordion
  • First Place—Ceili Band (with Castle Ceili Band)

1970 Oireachtas Competition

  • First Place – Solo Accordion

1970 Fleadh Cheoil (All-Ireland) – sponsored by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann

  • First Place—Trio with Joe Ryan, Micheál Ó hAlmhain

1973 Oireachtas Competition

  • First Place—Solo Accordion

1975 Fleadh Cheoil (All-Ireland)

  • First Place—Senior Accordion Championship

1977 Oireachtas Competition

  • First Place—Solo Accordion
  • First Place—Duet with Joe Ryan

1989 – Present Minnesota State Arts Board

  • Selected for Minnesota Folk Artists Directory

1989 Minnesota State Arts Board

  • Master Artist—Folk Arts Apprenticeship Grant

1993 Minnesota State Arts Board

  • Master Artist—Folk Arts Apprenticeship Grant

1994 National Endowment for the Arts

  • Folk Arts Project Grant to record 500 reels and jigs for Paddy O’Brien Tune Collection

1996 Minnesota State Arts Board

  • Master Artist—Folk Arts Apprenticeship Grant

1998 Minnesota State Arts Board

  • Master Artist—Folk Arts Apprenticeship Grant

2005 Irish Fair of Minnesota

  • Legacy Fund Grant to begin recording 500 tunes for Paddy O’Brien Tune Collection, Volume Two

2006 Bush Artist Fellowship

  • Folk Arts Fellowship

2008 Minnesota State Arts Board

  • Artist Initiative Grant

Publications

  • Chosen to illustrate certain types of dance music for Folk Music and Dances of Ireland by Breandán Breathnach (Mercier Press), a work now on the course for second and third level colleges and schools in Ireland. Over twenty notations of Paddy O’Brien’s music also appear in Breandán Breathnach’s Ceol Rince na hEireann, Nos. 2 and 3, published by the government of Ireland.
  • Published two poems, tributes to legendary musicians Seamus Ennis and Willie Clancy, in the 1993 edition of Dal gCais, The Journal of Clare, and the official program for the Willie Clancy Summer School.

Bands

1966-69

  • Ballinamere Céilí Band - with Peter Kilroe, Dan Cleary, Sean Monaghan, Sean Conlan, and Michael Lynam

1968

  • Seán Ryan Trio – with Seán and Kathleen Ryan

1969-78

  • Castle Céilí Band – with Michael O’Connor, John Kelly, Sean Keane, Michael Tubridy, Joe Ryan, John Dwyer, Bridie Lafferty and Benny Carey

1971-78

  • Ceoltoiri Laighean – with Éamon de Buitléar, John Kelly, James Kelly, Paddy Glackin, Peter Phelan, Mary Bergin, Mícheál Ó hAlmhain, and Aileen McCrann

1978-82

  • Bowhand - with James Kelly and Dáithí Sproule
    (also Terry O’Reilly and Bernie McDonald)

1983-84

Hill 16 – with Seán O’Driscoll and Tom Dahill

1995-present

  • Chulrua - currently with Patrick Ourceau and Eamon O’Leary
    (previously with Tim Britton, Michael Cooney, Pat Egan)

2003-present

The Doon Céilí Band – currently with Danielle Enblom, Nathan Gourley, Laura MacKenzie, Brian Miller, Patrice Pakiz, Norah Rendell, and Shena Tschofen (and previously with Kate and Jode Dowling, Sean Egan, Django Amerson)

2010-present

O’Rourke’s Feast – currently with Danielle Enblom, Nathan Gourley, Sherry Ladig, Suzanne Rhees, Ann Sandberg, Amy Shaw.

Lectures and Teaching

  • Willie Clancy Summer School, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare, IRELAND
  • The Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC
  • Catskills Irish Arts Week, East Durham, NY
  • Young Irish Musicians Weekend, Center for Irish Music, Saint Paul, MN
  • University of Limerick, Co. Limerick, IRELAND
  • Irish Week by the Sea, Queen’s County, Nova Scotia, CANADA
  • Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
  • Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL
  • Saint Olaf College, Northfield, MN
  • Creighton University, Omaha, NE
  • Libertyville School of Music, Libertyville, IL
  • Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA
  • Loras College, Dubuque, IA
  • Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee WI
  • Goderich Celtic College, Goderich, Ontario, CANADA
  • Blue Ridge Irish Music School, Harpers Ferry, WV
  • Irish Music School of Chicago, Chicago, IL
  • Irish Studies Program, University of Saint Thomas, Saint Paul, MN
  • ICONS Festival, Boston, MA
  • North House Folk School, Grand Marais, MN
  • Irish Fair of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN

Recordings

  • 1970 – Castle Ceili Band – Irish Pub Music – Arfolk SB 314
  • 1971 – Castle Ceili Band – Castle Ceili Band – Comhaltas
  • 1973 – Ceoltoiri Laighean – The Crooked Road – Gael-Linn
  • 1975 – Ceoltoiri Laighean – The Star of Munster – Gael-Linn CEF.047
  • 1978 – Paddy O’Brien, James Kelly, Daithi Sproule – Is It Yourself? – Shanachie 29015
  • 1982 – Paddy O’Brien, James Kelly, Daithi Sproule – Spring in the Air – Shanachie 29018
  • 1984 – Hill 16 – Hill 16 – Meadowlark 101
  • 1988 – Paddy O’Brien, Daithi Sproule, Karen Andersen, Erin Hart – Stranger at the Gate – Green Linnet GLCD 1091
  • 1988 – Accordion anthology – The Big Squeeze – Green Linnet 9014
  • 1988 – Peter Ostroushko – Blue Mesa – Red House – Guest artist
  • 1988 – Seán O’Driscoll – Up the Airy Mountain – Green Linnet – Guest artist
  • 1995 – Solo Accordion – Paddy O’Brien Tune Collection —Volume One – Library of Congress Card Catalog Number 95-92420
  • 1995 – Kelly/O’Brien/Sproule – Traditional Music of Ireland (re-release of Is It Yourself? / Spring in the Air) – Shanachie 34014
  • 1996 – Concert anthology – Gaelic Roots Festival 1995 – Boston College
  • 2000 – Chulrua – Barefoot on the Altar – Pied Piper PPP 301
  • 2003 – Chulrua – Down the Back Lane – Shanachie 22001
  • 2004 – Paddy O’Brien, Jamie Gans, Daithi Sproule – Snug in the Blanket – Black Tea Tunes BTT012
  • 2005 – Accordion anthology – Minnesota All Stars – Rounder 82161-6110-2
  • 2006 – The Doon Céilí Band – Around the World for Sport – Shanachie 23001
  • 2006 – Chulrua – The Singing Kettle – Shanachie 23002
  • 2008 – Paddy O’Brien, Daithi Sproule, Karen Andersen, Erin Hart – Stranger at the Gate – GLI 1091 (re-released by Compass Records)
  • 2008 – Live concert recording – Young Irish Musicians Weekend – Center for Irish Music
  • 2009 – Compilation – various artists – Hooley in the Heartland – Irish Music & Dance Assn
  • 2010 – Ceoltoiri Laighean – CNUAS – Gael-Linn Records (re-release of The Crooked Road/The Star of Munster)
  • 2011 – Paddy O’Brien, Tom Schaefer, Paul Wehling, Erin Hart – The Sailor’s Cravat – New Folk Records/Cló Iar-Chonnacht, WCM0001
  • 2011 – Paddy O’Brien – Paddy O’Brien Tune Collection—Volume Two- Library of Congress Card Catalog Number 95-92420
  • 2011 – Paddy O’Brien – Mixing the Punch – New Folk Records/Cló Iar-Chonnacht, WCM0003

Compositions

  1. The March of the Jacobites
  2. The Blackman’s Reel
  3. The Wooden City Polkas
  4. The Monk’s Wedding — reel
  5. The Gosling — three-part reel
  6. The Girls of Knocknagow — single jig
  7. The Wee Folks’ Revenge — walking march
  8. The Wooden City Hornpipe
  9. Mike Coogan’s Polka
  10. The Prairie Lassie — slip jig
  11. The Pauper’s Polka
  12. Making the Hay — reel
  13. The Foxhunters’ Chorus — reel
  14. Niall Gannon’s Mother — slow jig
  15. The Policeman’s Request — reel
  16. The Pig That Couldn’t Sneeze — hop jig
  17. The March of the Gaelic Order — clan march
  18. Tiny the Trooper — slip jig
  19. The Turf Footer — slip jig
  20. The Small Hills of Offaly — reel
  21. The Night Visitor — reel
  22. The Bard of Ballinaleck — 4-part reel
  23. The Sligo Damsel — reel
  24. The Man from Miltown — reel
  25. The Bee in the Meadow — slip jig
  26. The Journeyman’s Reel
  27. The Leaves in Autumn — jig
  28. The Lost Horizon — air
  29. Sarah’s Delight — reel
  30. The Poor Man’s Fortune — reel
  31. The Hurling Final — reel
  32. The Stony River — reel
  33. Barney Beatson’s Slide
  34. Kilclonfert Church — air
  35. The Mountain Pass — reel
  36. The Girls of Castlebarnagh — reel
  37. The Go-Between — jig
  38. The Lonesome Star — reel
  39. The Wayfarer — hornpipe
  40. The Pagan’s Polka
  41. The Shores of Iona — air
  42. The Troublesome Lady — hornpipe
  43. The Defeated Cause — air
  44. Mixing the Brandy — reel
  45. The Road of Return — reel
  46. O’Brien’s Tower — reel
  47. The Antrim Rose — reel
  48. The Road of Return (repeat) — reel
  49. O’Brien’s March — clan march

Radio & Television Appearances

Ireland

  • 1964 Beirt Eile – RTÉ
  • 1967 Bring Down the Lamp – RTÉ
  • 1969-71 Glen to Glen – UTV
  • 1973-75 Ceoltoiri Laighean TV specials – RTÉ
  • Comhaltas radio programs – RTÉ
  • Bring Down the Lamp – RTÉ
  • Raidió na Gaeltachta
  • 1975 Ceili House – RTÉ
  • 1977 Irish language radio play – RTÉ
  • 1992 The Pure Drop – RTÉ
  • 2004 The Late Session – RTÉ, Irish National Radio
  • 2007 Lán a’ Mhála – RTÉ / Raidió na Gaeltachta
  • 2008 Special Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann programme – RTÉ
  • 2010 Arena Arts Programme – RTÉ 1

Europe

  • 1973-75 Ceoltoiri Laighean – French National Television
  • Ceoltoiri Laighean in concert – German National Television

U.S.A.

  • 1978 A Prairie Home Companion – Minnesota Public Radio
  • 1979 A Prairie Home Companion – National Public Radio
  • 1981 The Lark in the Morning – Missouri Public Radio
  • 1982 A Prairie Home Companion – National Public Radio
  • 1985 Banish Misfortune – Berkeley, California
  • 1985 A Prairie Home Companion – National Public Radio
  • 1986 Last Night’s Fun – Fresh Air Radio, Minneapolis
  • 1988 The Mountain Stage – National Public Radio
  • 1989 SD Centennial Folk Festival – South Dakota Public Radio
  • 1992 On the Pig’s Back – KUBN/Portland, Oregon
  • 1992 The Irish Hour – Saint Louis Community Radio
  • 1993 River City Folk – National Public Radio
  • 1994 Midmorning – Minnesota Public Radio
  • 1995 Midmorning – Minnesota Public Radio
  • 1995 All Things Considered – Minnesota Public Radio
  • 2004 The Front Row – KUHF, Houston (TX) Public Radio
  • 2004 Celtic Heartland – KZUM, Lincoln NE
  • 2005 Century Song – KFAI, Minneapolis MN
  • 2006 Mist Covered Mountain – Roseburg OR
  • 2006 The Celtic Hour – KBOO Radio, Portland OR
  • 2011 Century Song – KFAI, Minneapolis MN
  • 2011 Radio Heartland, Minnesota Public Radio
  • 2011 Celtic Nation – KBEM, Minneapolis MN

Selected Concert Appearances
(For additional tour history with Chulrua, see Chulrua website)

  • Trinity College, Dublin
  • Focus Theatre, Dublin
  • Peacock Theatre, Dublin
  • Abbey Theatre, Dublin
  • Damer Theatre, Dublin
  • University College, Cork
  • University College, Dublin
  • University of Limerick, Limerick
  • Masters of Tradition Festival, Bantry, Cork
  • Cork Folk Festival, Cork City
  • Sean O’Riada Memorial Concert, Coolea, Cork
  • Cork City Folk Festival, Cork
  • Slattery’s Tradition Club, Dublin
  • Green Linnet Folk Club, Dublin
  • The Gaelic League Club, Dublin
  • The Cobblestone, Dublin
  • Glór Traditional Music Centre, Ennis, Co Clare
  • L’Orient Folk Festival, L’Orient, France
  • International Folk Festival, Cologne, Germany
  • International Festival of Traditional Arts, Quebec, CANADA
  • International Accordion Festival, Houston, TX
  • U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC
  • The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
  • Snug Harbor Irish Festival, Staten Island, NY
  • Philadelphia Ceili Festival, Philadelphia, PA
  • Wolf Trap Irish Festival, Washington, DC
  • Milwaukee Irish Fest, Milwaukee, WI
  • Irish Fair of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN
  • South Dakota Centennial Folk Festival, Sioux Falls, SD
  • San Antonio Irish Feis, San Antonio, TX
  • North Texas Irish Festival, Austin, TX
  • Smoky Hill River Festival, Salina, KS
  • Minnesota Ethnic Days, Chisholm, MN
  • Cincinnati Celtic Festival, Cincinnati, OH
  • Gaelic Roots Festival, Boston, MA
  • Saint Mary’s Basilica IrishFest, Minneapolis, MN
  • Kentuck Festival of the Arts, Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Bill Healy Foundation Celtic Music Fest, Portland, OR
  • Mill City Music Festival, Minneapolis, MN
  • Minnesota Folk, Saint Paul, MN
  • Powderhorn Festival of the Arts, Minneapolis, MN
  • Chautauqua on the River, Saint Paul, MN
  • Sebastopol Celtic Folk Festival, Sebastopol, CA
  • Houston International Fetsival, Houston, TX
  • Southern Illinois Festival of Irish Music & Dance, Carbondale, IL
  • Willie Clancy Summer School, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
  • Irish Week by the Sea, Queen’s County, Nova Scotia
  • The Swannanoa Gathering, Asheville, NC
  • Center for Popular Music, Murfreesboro, TN
  • Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL
  • Saint Olaf College, Northfield, MN
  • Creighton University, Omaha, NE
  • Libertyville School of Music, Libertyville, IL
  • Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA
  • Loras College, Dubuque, IA
  • University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
  • Goderich Celtic College, Goderich Ontario
  • Blue Ridge Irish Music School, Harpers Ferry, WV
  • Center for Irish Music, Saint Paul, MN
  • Ancient Order of Hibernians, Grand Rapids, MI
  • Ancient Order of Hibernians, Dayton, OH
  • Rose and Thistle Folk Club, Greensboro, NC
  • Gaelic League Club, Detroit
  • Elkins Country Dance Society, Elkins, WV
  • Tri-State Folk Music Assn, Fort Wayne, IN
  • Second Fret Folk Club, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Irish Heritage Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
  • Cityfolk, Dayton, OH
  • The Main Point, Philadelphia, PA
  • The Focal Point, Saint Louis, MO
  • The Foolkiller, Kansas City, MO
  • The Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN
  • The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI
  • Charlotte’s Web, Rockford, IL
  • Wild Hog in the Woods Coffeehouse, Madison, WI
  • Bunky’s, Madison, WI
  • Club de Wash, Madison, WI
  • United Irish Cultural Institute, San Francisco, CA
  • University of Iowa Friends of Old Time Music, Iowa City, IA
  • Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Boston
  • Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Glasgow
  • Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, London
  • John D. McGurk’s, Saint Louis, MO
  • The Eagle Tavern, New York, NY
  • Holstein’s, Chicago, IL
  • The Plough and the Stars, San Francisco, CA
  • Tommy Makem’s Irish Pavilion, New York, NY
  • Kelly’s Irish Times, Washington, D.C.
  • The Dubliner, Washington, D.C.
  • Keneally’s Irish Bar, Houston, TX
  • Harling’s, Kansas City, MO
  • The Kells, Portland, OR
  • Kells Irish Bar, Seattle, WA
  • Hap’s Bar, Cincinnati, OH
  • Old Irish Alehouse, Boston, MA
  • MacCafferty’s Irish Bar, Saint Paul, MN
  • Kilkenny Castle, Chicago, IL
  • Dublin Pub, Portland, OR
  • East Avenue Tavern, Portland, OR
  • The Mill, Iowa City, IA
  • The Sanctuary, Iowa City, IA
  • The Canal Street Tavern, Dayton, OH
  • Godfrey Daniels, Bethlehem, PA
  • The Irish Lion, Bloomington, IN
  • Brittingham’s, Philadelphia, PA
  • Murphy’s Pub, Seattle, WA
  • Ireland’s Four Provinces, Washington, D.C.
  • The Blarney Stone, Saint Louis, MO
  • Arnold’s Bar, Cincinnati, OH
  • The Parting Glass, Saratoga Springs, NY
  • County Cork Pub, Atlanta, GA