Paddy McNamara, Blind Fiddler (about 1820 - 1902)
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 1:13 pm
The online biographical notes on Paddy Canny (1919-2008), one of the founders of the Tulla Ceili Band, say that one of those who influenced his style of playing was Paddy McNamara, a blind fiddler, who travelled about teaching music and who spent some winters with the Cannys. I was intrigued by this blind fiddler, and wondered why there was always just this little snippet about him. I imagined that if he taught Paddy Canny in the 1920s, there must be more about his life somewhere, surely.
But I have come to realise that it was in the lifetime of Pat Canny (Paddy Canny’s father), that he stayed for those winter months. I think it was Pat he taught, and that Pat transmitted his style of playing to his son, Paddy.
I could not find out where Paddy McNamara was from until I hit upon this site: http://www.gannetschool.it/leggendoquaela29in.htm. That piece* told me he was from Cooleen Bridge:https://goo.gl/maps/PNztK8twcHT2, and from that point I began to make progress:
1901 census shows Patrick McNamara, aged 81, occupation: Musician; Blind; living in Lecarrow Lower (Feakle D.E.D.). Lecarrow Lower lies at the southeast end of Feakle parish and adjoins the townland of Poulagower in Tomgraney Parish, wherein lies Cooleen Bridge (on the R461 - over the river Graney), so Patrick could very well be described as being from near Cooleen Bridge. His wife, Johanna, is aged 61.
He died the following year on Dec. 28, 1902, in Laccaroe, aged 82, occupation: Fiddler; Informant: Johanna McNamara, wife of deceased. His death was registered in Feakle, Scarriff Union. Johanna died in 1905, aged 72, in Scarriff Workhouse.
*Patrick Joseph in that piece is P. J. Hayes
Sheila
But I have come to realise that it was in the lifetime of Pat Canny (Paddy Canny’s father), that he stayed for those winter months. I think it was Pat he taught, and that Pat transmitted his style of playing to his son, Paddy.
I could not find out where Paddy McNamara was from until I hit upon this site: http://www.gannetschool.it/leggendoquaela29in.htm. That piece* told me he was from Cooleen Bridge:https://goo.gl/maps/PNztK8twcHT2, and from that point I began to make progress:
1901 census shows Patrick McNamara, aged 81, occupation: Musician; Blind; living in Lecarrow Lower (Feakle D.E.D.). Lecarrow Lower lies at the southeast end of Feakle parish and adjoins the townland of Poulagower in Tomgraney Parish, wherein lies Cooleen Bridge (on the R461 - over the river Graney), so Patrick could very well be described as being from near Cooleen Bridge. His wife, Johanna, is aged 61.
He died the following year on Dec. 28, 1902, in Laccaroe, aged 82, occupation: Fiddler; Informant: Johanna McNamara, wife of deceased. His death was registered in Feakle, Scarriff Union. Johanna died in 1905, aged 72, in Scarriff Workhouse.
*Patrick Joseph in that piece is P. J. Hayes
Sheila