He grew up in Donnycarney, north Co. Dublin and his love of Irish music came from his parents’ native Co. Laois and the music that surrounded him at home. His first instrument was a plastic tin whistle and by the age of eight he was learning to play the uilleann pipes from the great pipe master, Leo Rowsome.
The Chieftains – a name which was inspired by the Irish poet John Montague – recorded the very first of many award winning albums in 1962 and since then they have recorded and performed with some of the biggest names in music.
(First broadcast 18th March 2011)
RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 26th December, 3pm-4pm