The death of Sliabh Luachra accordion player Timmy O’Connor has been announced. One of the old style musicianers. At one time he was on stage at the Willie week, about to start his tunes, when his mobile rang. Unphased, he took the call in front of the microphone, making his apologies to the caller he was a bit busy at the moment.
A mighty player, the few times I heard him in person were a treat even as his physical ability diminished. A favorite of mine on melodeon, which is having a bit of a comeback in recent years it seems.
His contribution to Larry Lynch’s set dancing tapes ‘Set dances of Ireland’ (vols ll, lll, lV) with Denis McMahon and Paudy Scully is classic. As are his other recordings, the last one with Pat Fleming and backing by Steve Cooney. Great composer of tunes too.
This one is still available as well:
Just as an addition: it’s the time for end of year ‘Best of 2024’ lists and the Irish Times ‘Best trad albums’ list features Timmy O’Connor, Pat Fleming and Steve Cooney’s ‘Tunes from Toureendarby’ as number 3 in their top 5.
Siobhán Long writes:
Brimming with joie de vivre and fuelled by the muscular playfulness of Sliabh Luachra’s polkas and slides (with the odd reel and barn dance tossed in for good measure), this collection, named after a townland outside Newmarket, goes a long way towards capturing the essence of a live session in full swing.
O’Connor and Fleming are box players with decades of shared sessions between them, and Cooney is, well, Cooney, landing slingshots of effervescence into the mix,
This is where the local meets global, the Rushy Glen’s dancing shoes sparking off the antipodean flint that is Cooney, through and through. >
