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John McGrath

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John McGrath, fiddle ; Hugh Murphy, accordion ; Scotty Watson, T Cawley / Unidentified photographer. New York, 1931.

John McGrath, 1900–1955

John McGrath who played button accordion, would go on to lead dance bands, play for step dancers at feis competitions, and teach music to hundreds of students in Manhattan and the Bronx. McGrath was a friend of Michael Coleman, who shared an apartment with the Mayo man for some time. McGrath never made a commercial recording himself but “John McGrath’s Composition,” the only tune indisputably attributed to him, lives on as a fiddlers’ favourite.

Group photograph of The Emerald Isle Orchestra / Unidentified photographer
Group photograph of The Emerald Isle Orchestra / Unidentified photographer
The Emerald Isle Orchestra [Mike McGrath, banjo ; Bernard McVey, fiddle ; John McGrath, fiddle ; Jimmy Cunningham, accordion ; Jim McGrath, drums] / Unidentified photographer. New York, 1930 - 1931. Image courtesy Vincent McGrath.
 
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Group photograph of The Emerald Isle Orchestra / Unidentified photographer

Group photograph of The Emerald Isle Orchestra / Unidentified photographer

Group photograph of The Emerald Isle Orchestra / Unidentified photographer

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