All about me!
5th generation musician and teacher. My great great grandfather was
headmaster of a national school in Ardaghi; he encouraged and taught
my grandmother Patti (Corr) to play concertina, harmonica, dance,
list and sing. Performing arts were always a priority in her
family.
I was lucky enough to grow up in a home where music was alive and
well and performances were encouraged by everyone.
My grandfather, George Mooney played flute and fife, his family (all
his brothers) played a wide variety of instruments and were the core
members of the Blackrock Band, which was also known as The Mooney
Band. They played a mixture of traditional music, jazz, and
whatever was popular at the time.
My Dad's family were singers. I have good memories of sitting with
my Grandfather (Paddy Deegan) and working my way through the Waltons
Books, singing every ballad in them with him. There was a black
book and a brown one. "If you feel like singing, do sing an Irish
song"
I started playing whistle at around five years of age. I would walk
to school in Monkstown, and bring my whistle every day. On the way
home I would play non stop till I got home, all the neighbours knew
what time I came home at!
My accordian playing skills came from a blind man called Johnny
Matthews, he held a class every week in Sallynoggin, again my sister
and I would walk to this, rain or shine, and played in what looked
like a bomb shelter, I think these sheds are called Nissan Huts? It
was cold, dreary and miserable, but worth it. I learnt to read
music from this man as he could describe the lines and spaces to me,
and the value of the dots. He was quite amazing. He always knew
exactly which child played a wrong note.
I learnt piano with a wonderful lady, Gretta Hughes, she had the
patience of a saint. I always enjoyed learning with Mrs. Hughes,
she was a very gifted pianist and loved to teach popular music of
the day as well as the classics.
My Aunt and Uncle, Maureen and Dick Kilduff, also had a huge musical
influence on me, their whole life was dedicated to teaching and
performance. Maureen had her own band for many years and also a Fit
Up company. Her stories of her theatre days would intrigue me, but
I now realise that they were both glorious and tough.
Maureen played piano, fiddle and drums, her playing was and still is
magic. She is now 86 years old.. Dick played piano accordian, and
he was the most wonderful instrumentalist I have ever come across on
this instrument. He could make the music dance. Sadly, he died a
few years ago, but not before leaving me a world of great memories.
My violin teacher was Sean Bradley, again, his was a class I really
enjoyed. Sean wanted to teach me entirely classical music, but one
day I arrived with a fiddle book and said, "this is what I want to
learn". I don't know where Sean is now. I hope he is well and
happy.
I feel blessed to have music in my life, to be in a position to pass
it on to so many young people, and to hear the many young musicians
I have taught performing. It makes me think that the world of trad
is in safe hands for another generation.