Paddy Moloney

Paddy Moloney (2009)

Paddy Moloney (born August 1, 1938 in Donnycarney , Dublin , Ireland ) is an Irish uillean pipes player.

Life

Moloney grew up in a family of musicians. At the age of six he played the tin whistle and at the age of eight he began to learn the uillean pipes. His teacher was Leo Rowsome. At twelve, Moloney won the All Irish Championship in the Uillean Pipes division.

After finishing school he worked in the accounting department of the Irish construction company Baxendales. He was a member of several bands - sometimes at the same time - including the skiffle band The Three Squares . In the mid-1950s he met Seán Potts and Michael Tubridy , with whom he worked from then on. In the late 1950s he led a band with Seán Potts, banjo player Barney McKenna (later with the Dubliners ), the singer Larry Tracey and the flautist and tap dancer Paidí Bán Ó Broin, who died early, and who placed great emphasis on the use of the Irish language . Around the same time, Moloney met Seán Ó Riada when he played with Seán Potts, Michael Tubridy, Martin Fay and others in Dublin clubs. From this circle Ó Riada's band Ceoltóirí Chualann (see The Chieftains ) was recruited . This band recorded five albums by 1967.

In 1962 Paddy Moloney wanted to realize his own ideas and founded his band The Chieftains for an album - in addition to the Ceoltoiri-Chuallan project . There were Seán Potts, Martin Fay, Peadar Mercier and Michael Tubridy from Ó Riada's band, as well as the aged bodhran player Dave Fallon. They recorded the album The Chieftains , which was released on Garech a Brúns (Garech Browne) newly founded label Claddagh . In 1968, Paddy left Baxendales to only work for the Claddagh label. During this time he also worked as a producer of several LPs for the label. In 1969 Moloney reformed the Chieftains. He brought Peadar Mercier for David Fallon, who was no longer active for reasons of age, and the young Seán Keane from Ó Ríada's band was hired as second violinist .

Moloney still plays with the Chieftains to this day. Numerous musicians left the band and were replaced by others, but Paddy Moloney has been the head of the group as the only remaining founding member for more than 40 years. Moloney played a big part in the Chieftains' success. The band played in many countries and on several continents. The band has played with numerous musicians and has taken on many influences.

In addition to his leadership role with the Chieftains, Paddy Moloney was involved in numerous musical projects. He has worked on recordings by Mick Jagger , Mike Oldfield , Midge Ure , Paul McCartney , Van Morrison , Mike McGear , Alan Stivell , Christy Moore , Don Henley , Värttinä and Pink Floyd ( The Wall in Berlin). He has written scores for films such as Tristan and Isolde (film adaptation with Richard Burton), The Year of the French , The Ballad of the Irish Horse , The Gray Fox , Treasure Isle ( Treasure Island , remake), Far and Away (In a distant land ), Agnes Browne , Das Mauve Taxi ( Le Taxi mauve ) and Gods and Generals .

In 1988, Moloney received an honorary doctorate from Trinity College Dublin for his musical contributions to the Republic of Ireland.

Discography

as a band member:

• with Ceoltoiri Chuallan (see The Chieftains )
• with The Chieftains (see The Chieftains )

Solo & Collaborations:

• Paddy Moloney & Sean Potts: Tin Whistles (1973)
• Paddy Moloney: Silent Night: A Christmas in Rome (1998)
• John Montague & Paddy Moloney: The Wild Dog Rose (2011)