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A young Séamus O'Mahony standing playing fiddle

Séamus O’Mahony: A Hidden Gem in ITMA / “Caill-taisce’ sa Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann

During the 1920s and 1930s, Séamus O’Mahony (1900–1991) was regarded as one of the leading fiddle players in Ireland. Captain Francis O’Neill held Séamus O’Mahony in such high esteem that he included the young fiddle player in ‘Irish Minstrels and Musicians’ (1913) despite Séamus being just 13 years of age at the time of print. Yet, in recent decades, O’Mahony’s music has almost been forgotten.

Séamus and Edward O'Mahony in: Irish Minstrels and Musicians, 1913
The All-Ireland Trio : Séamus O'Mahony, Leo Rowsome, and Neilus Cronin / unidentified photographer

“Luke Kelly, fiddle (though he was not a great player), Mrs. Sheridan – she was quite distinctive, and Séamus Mahoney. Also, if I may say so, my brother Edward who improvised well. ​The others had what they called very nice touches, but they used the same notes all the time without intensity or emotion… Séamus Mahoney was serious minded in his playing, I consider this a great thing.”

Tommie Potts, 1972
Brendan E. O'Mahony, Liam O'Connor and Mick O'Connor
  • 3 Tracks
  • • Now Playing:

The boys of Bluehill, hornpipe ; Sweep's, hornpipe / Séamus O'Mahony, fiddle ; Brendan E. O'Mahony, piano

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  • The boys of Bluehill, hornpipe ; Sweep's, hornpipe / Séamus O'Mahony, fiddle ; Brendan E. O'Mahony, piano

  • The Salamanca l ; Hand me down the tackle / Séamus O'Mahony

  • An raibh tú ag an gcarraig / Séamus O'Mahony