Obit: : Johnny O'Leary

Subject: Obit: : Johnny O'Leary
From: MartinRyan
Date: 10 Feb 04 - 01:55 PM

Some of you may know or know of the great Johnny O'Leary (pronounced roughly 'Johnny Laery'!', the legendary box-player from Sliabh Luachra (Cork/Kerry border). He died yesterday, aged over 80, after a lifetime of music and dance. He will be sorely missed - a true character.

Regards

Subject: RE: Obit: : Johnny O'Leary
From: Big Tim
Date: 11 Feb 04 - 05:52 AM

Thanks Martin. I hadn't heard of him, but this from the Companion to Irish Traditional Music -

"Johnny O'Leary, accordion (1923-). Born in the Sliabh Luachra area on the Cork-Kerry border, this highly regarded player picked up his first tunes from his uncle, Dan O'Leary,a pupil of Tom Billy Murphy, but learned much of his music from the Sliabh Luachra fiddle master, Padraig O'Keefe. In the mid 30s he struck up a musical partnership with the fiddle player Denis Murphy at Thade Willie O'Connor's Dance Hall in Gneeveguilla, which lasted until the latter's death in 1974. With Murphy too, in 1964 he became a regular feature of music in Dan O'Connell's Bar in Knocknagree where they played for set dancers. He is the subject of the 1999 book and tune collection, 'Johnny O'Leary of Sliabh Luachra', editied by Terry Moylan."

Subject: RE: Obit: : Johnny O'Leary
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 11 Feb 04 - 05:09 PM

Thanks Martin.

All the best,
Dan