Collection POL-18787 - Peadar O'Loughlin Collection

Peadar O’Loughlin was a musician who played the fiddle, uilleann pipes and flute. He was born at Cullen, Kilmaley, Co. Clare. Influenced by his father, who played fiddle, flute and concertina, his growing up was among local and visiting musicians, including fiddler Ellen Galvin. Beginning on whistle, he moved to flute, then fiddle, then pipes. Solo playing for set dancers was common practice in his youth, making his first experience of attempted group playing odd enough to be memorable. He joined the Fiach Roe Céilí Band in 1948, in later years played with the Tulla and Kilfenora, and recorded with Aggie White, Willie Clancy and Elizabeth Crotty, and with Paddy Canny, Bridie Lafferty and P. Joe Hayes he recorded All-Ireland Champions. Much local music was originated in O’Neill’s collection (learned and transmitted by fiddler Hughdie Doohan), but travelling players were also a major source: Jerry O’Shea introducing ‘The Blooming Meadows’, dancing master Paddy Barron (who taught regularly in Peadar’s home) bringing ‘The Drunken Gauger’. Seán Reid introduced him to piping – via the Tulla Céilí Band – and gave him Bro. Gildas O’Shea’s Egan set of flat pipes as a wedding present. From the early 1950s O’Loughlin was best known for his playing in Fleadh and Oireachtas competitions with concertina player Paddy Murphy. He played much with Paddy Canny and Ronan Browne, with whom he has recorded. He teaches at the Willie Clancy Summer School.