This month we explore the archive collections for accordion players who have made a significant impact on a younger generation of musicians. I’m grateful to Paudie O’Connor, one of the most highly regarded accordion players in the country, who joins me on the accompanying podcast to discuss the music selection. Paddy O’Brien (1922–1991), from Nenagh together with Joe Burke (1939–2021), from Galway were the two major figures to emerge from the 1950s to popularise the accordion. They both spent time in the US in the 1950s and 60s, playing with musical colleagues in New York and we include tracks from New York at that time. 

Charlie Mulvihill (1917–1975), a native New Yorker with roots in West Clare, was a central figure in New York Irish music from the 1940s–70s. Here he’s playing with his pals Larry Redican, Andy McGann and Jack Coen in the early 1960s. Due to the age & condition of the original physical carriers, archival recordings like this track may experience issues during digitisation such as variable pitch & tempo. In such cases as this where the listening experience is not affected, ITMA has refrained from engaging in digital audio restoration, which is in line with our own archival policy. 

Johnny O’Leary (1923–2004), was probably the most influential accordion players from Sliabh Luachra. Together with the late Denis Murphy, he forged a formidable duet and Johnny himself was a huge repository of tunes. This set of slides and this set of hornpipes, recorded by Séamus Ennis in 1949 and now part of the RTÉ Archives Acetate Disc Collection, captures Johnny’s rhythmic style.

As previously noted, Tony MacMahon kindly donated his private collection to ITMA. Included is a solo track from 1967 and a later track when Tony is accompanied by Steve Cooney in 2000. 

Enjoy,
Pádraic