LAST UPDATE | 12 Oct 2021
PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins has lead tributes following the death of Paddy Moloney, founder of The Chieftains and an iconic figure in Irish traditional music.
The piper, composer and producer, who was in his 80s, was from Donnycarney in Dublin. Moloney grew up in a musical family and played various instruments including the tin whistle and uilleann pipes. He was a student of legendary piper Leo Rowsome.
Moloney originally formed The Chieftains in 1962. In their nearly six decade career they have been six-time Grammy Award winners and have been recognised internationally for reinventing Irish music and for transcending musical boundaries.
Over the decades they collaborated or performed with artists as diverse as Emmylou Harris, The Dubliners, Tom Jones and The Rolling Stones.
His death was confirmed this afternoon.
In a statement the President said: “The Irish music community, and indeed the much larger community throughout the world who found such inspiration in his work, will have learnt with great sadness today of the passing of Paddy Moloney, founder and leader of the Chieftains.
“Paddy, with his extraordinary skills as an instrumentalist, notably the uilleann pipes and bodhrán, was at the forefront of the renaissance of interest in Irish music, bringing a greater appreciation of Irish music and culture internationally.
“Not only as a consummate musician himself, but as a founder member of Claddagh Records together with Garech de Brún, he brought a love of Irish music not just to the diaspora, but to all those across the world who heard his music and appreciated it for its own sake as it transcended all musical boundaries.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin echoed the president’s statement.
He said: “So sad to hear of the passing of Paddy Moloney. The term ‘legend’ is regularly overused, but hard to think of any other way to describe this giant of Irish music and culture. GRMA Paddy for your massive contribution to the life of our nation. RIP.”
Earlier, the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) said Moloney made an enormous contribution to Irish traditional music, song and dance and has left a wonderful legacy.
ITMA director Liam O’Connor said Moloney had a “phenomenal impact on traditional music in Ireland but also throughout the world.”
O’Connor told The Journal that the uilleann pipes were in danger of dying out when Moloney began learning the instrument from Rowsome.
“He is a very important link with, what could have been, the last of the uilleann pipers,” O’Connor explained.
“To learn directly from Leo Rowsome, who was one of the only people making, playing and teaching the uilleann pipes. So, the whole instrument may have not have survived, only for the likes of Paddy went to Leo Rowsome. Liam O’Flynn would be in that category too.
There’s people in Japan that are making and playing the uilleann pipes because Paddy Moloney and The Chieftains played in Tokyo in the 1990s or 2000s. He inspired a worldwide interest in Irish traditional music and changed a lot of people’s lives for the better.
Minster for Arts Catherine Martin paid tribute to the musician today.
“With the passing of Paddy Moloney, we have lost a giant of the national cultural landscape,” she said.
“Through the Chieftains, he brought the joy of Irish music to a global audience. His music was a source of celebration and pride for all of us. Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam.”
In a statement this afternoon, the National Concert Hall said it was deeply saddened to hear of Moloney’s passing.
“Ireland has today lost a true talent, and advocate for traditional music with the passing of Paddy Maloney,” NCH chairperson Maura McGrath said.
“His musical achievements with The Chieftains were, and will continue to be, recognised as outstanding, transcending all musical boundaries, and connecting Irish people everywhere with their unique sound.
“Paddy’s contribution to, and support of the National Concert Hall throughout his lifetime has been immense.”
Contains reporting from Stephen McDermott and Cónal Thomas.
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