I figured someone else would have posted the news here but I don’t see anything yet…
The great East Galway flute player Jack Coen passed away over the weekend. Here’s a link to an interview with him in 2009 by Paula Carroll from Clare FM’s Kitchen Sessions series:
http://ragandbone.ie/2009/11/keepers-of-the-flame-jack-coen-woodford-galway/
Oh, I’m so sad. Another truly great one, gone on. Thank you for letting us know.
Very saddening. Rest tunefully, Jack.
Bob
Very sad news indeed. Thanks for posting the link to the interview, it was great to listen to it and I only wish I had come across it under different circumstances. Seems like another big loss for the tradition.
Tom
Thanks so much for posting the interview. Another keeper of the flame is gone. I was fascinated to hear about how he learned tunes as a young man, when few even had a radio. Imagine lilting tunes all day long while working on the roads, then trying to remember them to play on your instrument later. It was truly learning by ear. Wow.
A few years back I posted some notes and impressions from a week when Jack was teaching at Irish Arts Week in the Catskills in 1997:
I’ve been out of touch with Jack for several years now. Thanks for letting us know, Brad.
Thanks for all the tunes, Jack.
That is a great tragedy. We could use more straight ahead flute players like him, not less. He was, and continues, to be a great inspiration for beginners and pros alike.
One of my all-time favorites. He’ll be missed.
this is sad.
some of my favorite tunes were from jack’s playing, his style was so unique and unpretentious, he had some great stories, and some of the best advice for us students. (and of course he had the best hoseclamp technique bar none.)
my first flute hero and friend, jimmy hogan (rip), died a few years ago.
then the great mike rafferty (rip).
and now jack coen (rip).
what a great generation of fluters.
jack was precious. may his music live on.
Sad to hear this. Following Jim Coogan and Mike Rafferty, Jack Coen is the third of my three major early influences to pass away. I’ve only been playing Irish music for about 10 years, but already the (sonic) landscape has changed.
Sorry to hear of Jack’s passing, he’ll be much remembered RIP
Very sad to hear the loss of another gem in Irish traditional music, especially another flute player. 
Christel rice
www.christelrice.com