Track Listing

“The Moving Cloud” composed by Neillidh Boyle
“Paddy Kelly’s” and “O’Brien’s Dream” composed by Paddy Kelly, Aughrim
“The Hunter’s House” and “Fisherman’s Island” composed by Ed Reavy
“The High Level” composed by James Hill
“The Swan on the Lake” composed by Paddy O’Brien

Piano Accompaniment tracks 1,2 & 3 Eileen Lane
Piano Accompaniment track 21 Jodie Larkin
Tracks 1-3 Recorded 1947 by Bill Stapleton, IRC Dublin
Tracks 4-9 Recorded 1954, Newtown, Tipperary
Tracks 10-17 & 20-23 Recorded 1959, Dublin
Tracks 18-19 Recorded 1956, Ennis
Tracks 24-26 Home recordings 1957

Sources of recordings for this project Donnchadh & Eileen O’Brien, Harry Bradshaw, Brendan McHugh, Joe O’Connor, Sean and Michael Moloney (Portroe), Stephen Chambers, Maura and Kit Walsh Lixnaw C.C.E.

PADDY O’BRIEN 1922-1991

Solo Recordings

‘The Spike Island Lassies and Dowd’s Favourite, I had never heard the accordion played as masterfully as that before. What came across was the complete mastery of the instrument and also his great innovation of the tunes. His early 1950’s recordings were a milestone. Standards were raised, awareness was raised and even hopes were raised and a new interest and respect was generated. The rest is history, Paddy O’Brien left a huge positive mark on the history of 20th century Irish music’’
Joe Burke R.I.P.

‘Like Coleman, his tune selections have been widely copied, so too his style’
Fintan Vallely

‘His unique style of playing that no other musician had. A good example was the way he played “the Mason’s Apron”. There was great feeling in his music. He was able to put in that little or triplet when you were least expecting it, the proof of a true genius’
Paddy Ryan accordionist Tipperary

‘The music seemed to flow from the box with the bellows scarcely moving’
John Joe and kathleen Nesbitt

“Paddy O’Brien was a peerless musician and composer and responsible for spreading interest in and enjoyment of Irish traditional music in Ireland, America and many other countries’
Jimmy O’Sullivan Accordionist

‘One evening while teaching us to play a delicate improvisation in the second part of “The Duke of Leinster” reel,Paddy stunned us all by leaving aside his accordion and took up the fiddle to emphasise what he had in mind. It was magic!’
Gerry Banjo O’Connor

‘While I was never fortunate enough to meet Paddy O’Brien, his name for me has always been synonymous with button accordion playing as we know it’
Annette Owens

‘Thanks to Paddy for all the joy he gave us, with his music and his good sense of humour. His music lives on’ Nora Butler R.I. P.
‘Enjoy the music and remember the man’
Larry Gavin

‘Nowadays, from Newtown to New York, you will scarcely hear a session without a scattering of Paddy’s compositions’
Murty Ryan

‘To have been considered his friend was indeed an honour, but to have the privilege of sharing the same stage with him was an even greater honour’
Tom Gleeson R.I.P.

‘My uncle John Rock got some of Paddy’s records. I had never heard an accordion played like that before. I began to experiment and eventually adapt to his stye which I still play today’
Jimmy McGreevy

‘The void that Dad leaves as a father can only now be filled by his music’
Donnchadh O’Brien

‘The timeless quality of Paddy’s tunes will ensure that they retain a cherished position in the traditional repertoire’
Bríd Harper

‘I am proud to say that I am a big admirer of the tunes composed and played by the late Paddy O’Brien’
Darren Breslin

‘I suppose a pioneer in any field is the one who will be remembered, Paddy devised a system for two-row box playing which brought about a transformation in the use of the inside and outside rows allowing tunes to be played in Major and Minor keys which hitherto had not been possible’
Ben Lennon R.I.P.

‘As a musician, I am indebted to the musical legacy left to my generation by the legendary Paddy O’Brien’
Danny O’Mahony

‘Paddy O’Brien had the greatest style of all time’
PJ Hernon

‘That’s O’Brien for you! Wasn’t it good that we lived long enough to see him! Such was the reputation Paddy held in East Galway’
John Joe Forde

‘The Yellow Tinker and The Sally Gardens recorded by Paddy back in 1954 had a huge influence on me. I always regarded him as “The Daddy” of accordion players’
Seamus Bugler

‘We will probably never have another Paddy O’Brien but we can always play his records’
Martin Donohue

‘Paddy was an outstanding mentor. As a friend , musician and teacher, he gave me a great deal of invaluable and timeless advice’
John Connolly

‘In the late 60’s and early 70’ at annual concerts organised by Peadar O’Loughlin, I had the privilege of accompanying Paddy. Despite the fact that I was only learning the craftI never felt under pressure because Paddy always put me at ease. He indirectly influenced me and many others who were not in his formal classes’
Dr. Geraldine Cotter

‘I hdd thee honour of playing with the Ormond Ceili Band and to take part in rehearsals prior to the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Buncrana in 1980. Ní bheidh a leithéad ann arís’
Dónal Ó Connor Brosna

‘The music, stylee and compositions of Paddy O’Brien are instantly recognisable and are the work of a true craftsman who was dedicated and committed to his music’
Anne Conroy Burke

‘Paddy played “The Drunken Sailor” and I hit a few chords on the piano and I think that was the proudest moment of my life’
Eddie Kelly R.I.P.

‘Paddy was a gentle man but he insisted that the music be played traditionally and not messed with in any way’
Felix Dolan R.I.P.

‘Paddy was the greatest innovator of the button key accordion I ever heard. There is no way I could adequately describe the beauty of Paddy’s music. You would have to hear it’
Jack Coen R.I.P.

‘When you played or spoke about music with Paddy O’ Brien, you came away knowing that you were in the company of someone who was part of a musical epoch’
Nicholas and Anne McAuliffe

‘My first introduction to Paddy’s music came in thee form of the old 78 rpm recordings. His music was adored in our house and my father used to say, “ Paddy O’Brien is the Daddy of them all”
Martin Connolly R.I.P.

‘Paddy O’Brien had a long and fruitful relationship with R.T.E. on both radio and television, from the early 1950’s. Thanks to Paddy’s comfortable relationship with Ciaran Mac Mathúna we have a wonderful collection of his music in the archive in R.T.E.’
Kieran Hanrahan

‘Paddy transferred the fiddle and flute music to the accordion and accordionists hadn’t heard that kind of music beforehand, everybody was emulating it. Everybody wanted to play like Paddy O’Brien. He found his musical voice and set the standard for the other great B/C accordionists that followed in his footsteps. Paddy O’Brien had a profound impact on my playing’
Seamus Connolly

‘Paddy was a huge influence on me then as he was on a whole generation of players to come. I also loved the beautiful tunes he composed’
Martin Mulhaire R.I.P.

‘The introduction by Paddy O’Brien to the B/C accordion must rank as one of the pivotal and seminal moments in the history of Irish traditional music. He instigated the creation of a behemoth instrumental tradition through the artistic grafting of his native fiddle tradition onto this instrument transforming the very sound of music’
Dr. Niall Keegan

‘He was my teacher, but he was also my very good friend. It was a pleasure to have known such a genius’
Tom Lawlor, accordionist

‘Paddy established the system of two-row accordion playing as never before and opened up the full potential of the instrument. His trademarks were his strict rhythm, impeccable musical accuracy and respect for the basic melody’
Bobby Gardiner

‘Paddy was very generous with tunes. If a strange tune was played at the session, the next time that I’d meet Paddy, I would be handed a neatly written tune and maybe another to accompany it’
Michael Harty member of The Ormond Ceili Band

‘Irish music s safely well in our house thanks to the great music teacher, the late Paddy O’Brien’
Jim Kinsella

‘There is no doubt that Paddy O’Brien enjoyed well deserved celebrity status in his day. He was a soft-spoken, quiet, tasty man, who was gentle to all he met. A tribute paid to him regularly, not least by my own family.’
Peadar O’Loughlin R.I.P.

‘I look forward to great sessions in God’s garden and I hope Paddy will let me sit beside him there’
Liam O’Connor R.I.P. Member of the Ormond Ceili Band

‘ I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Paddy O’Brien when he was still at the peak of his career. He was a modest man, quiet spoken and warm hearted. His dedication to traditional music was total and complete’
Dr. Charlie Lennon

‘Paddy was first heard on four 78 RPM records released in 1954 to great acclaim. The button accordion now enjoys equal status with other instruments. For as long as traditional music is played in the manner moulded by the masters, the accordionist Paddy O’Brien will be spoken of with great admiration and that will be forever.’
John Regan

‘Paddy was one of the all time greats. I was lucky to have known Paddy, he was always very helpful and happy to share his music and great gift of playing the two row B/C accordion’
John Bowe

‘Paddy’s distinctive contribution to music has influenced and inspired generations of musicians.’
Joe and Michael Searson