Liam O’Flynn, master uilleann piper and gentleman, was one of Ireland’s most influential musicians of the last 50 years. He was born into a musical household in Kill, Co. Kildare and honed his craft as a piper under the tutelage of Leo Rowsome and was later influenced by Willie Clancy and Seamus Ennis.
He came to prominence in the early 70s as a co-founder of the group Planxty along with Christy Moore, Donal Lunny and Andy Irvine. The group transformed and popularized Irish folk music, touring and recording to great acclaim. A founding member and president of Na Píobairí Uilleann, he remained faithful to the piping tradition while courageously venturing into previously uncharted terrain.
Liam was also known for his collaborations with artists such as Kate Bush, Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris and the Everly Brothers and he also composed film scores. However, his most famous collaborative work was with Shaun Davey on ‘The Brendan Voyage’, a major orchestral suite composed for the uilleann pipes which is still regarded as a groundbreaking piece of work.
Seamus Heaney was another of Liam’s friends, both men were gentle and soft-spoken and worked together on a verse and pipes performance collaboration called ‘The Poet and the Piper’. Liam, like he had done at the funeral of Seamus Ennis, played the pipes at the funeral of Seamus Heaney.
Being from Kildare he also had a love of horses and met his future wife Jane, one of Ireland’s top eventing riders, while out on the gallops. Liam O’Flynn passed away in March 2018 following a long battle with cancer.
This episode of Cloch le Carn looks back at the life and career of Liam O’Flynn through the eyes of those closest to him. Contributions come from his wife Jane, Christy Moore, Shaun Davey, Paddy Glackin, Neil Martin, Áine Hensey and Maitiú Ó Casaide.
“He always had a love for horses. He loved the Curragh, it’s a lovely open place and you can just ride on it for hours on end.” Jane O’Flynn
“Liam is in the litany of great pipers. I think he is the outstanding piper of our time.” Christy Moore
“He was the wildcard (in Planxty) because you never knew when the pipes were going to play. But when the pipes played, my God, you listened.” Shaun Davey
Presenter / Reporter Garry Mac Donncha
Executive Producer / Director Niamh Ní Churnáin
Cloch Le Carn, Tuesday 14th May, 7PM on RTÉ One