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2021 Obit: Tony MacMahon

09 Oct 21 - 08:35 AM (#4122394)
Subject: Obit: Tony MacMahon
From: GUEST

The death has taken place of broadcaster and accordionist extraordinaire Tony MacMahon.


09 Oct 21 - 09:44 AM (#4122398)
Subject: RE: Obit: Tony MacMahon
From: Felipa

I heard the announcement on Raidió na Gaeltachta this morning. Tony was 82 years old. Tony McMahon was well-enough known in Ireland that the Irish president Michael D. Higgins paid public tribute to him. There was a documentary made about McMahon in 2019, and he himself presented radio and t.v. series about traditional music, including The Long Note and The Pure Drop. The documentary was made after McMahon was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which was robbing him of the ability to play music.

https://www.rte.ie/gaeilge/2019/0123/1025002-slan-leis-an-gceol-how-we-made-the-intimate-portrait/


introducing and playing Port na bPúcaí

presenting and playing with Barney McKenna

Tony McMahon and Steve Cooney, 2012


09 Oct 21 - 10:02 AM (#4122402)
Subject: RE: Obit: Tony MacMahon
From: GUEST,Peter Laban

Here is his paper presented to the 1996 Crossroads conference:

Tony MacMahon: The language of passion


There was a documentary about his collaboration with the Kronos Quartet. There was a vox pop after their concert. One man commented that if ever MacMahon would go off on one of his rants about the purity of music we could now tell him we saw him tear the arse off Port na bPucai with Kronos.

A complex man of many talents.


09 Oct 21 - 10:16 AM (#4122404)
Subject: RE: Obit: Tony MacMahon
From: The Sandman

thanks for the music r i p


10 Oct 21 - 12:01 PM (#4122514)
Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Tony MacMahon
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan

As Peter says, a complex man. May he rest in peace.

Here's a somewhat unusual clip of his musicmaking, to add to those posted by Peter ...

Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine

Regards


10 Oct 21 - 02:20 PM (#4122523)
Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Tony MacMahon
From: Dave Hanson

He did a tour of Ireland with the great Barney McKenna great music from 2 great musicians, much of it on youTube.

Dave H


10 Oct 21 - 02:25 PM (#4122525)
Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Tony MacMahon
From: GUEST,Peter Laban

They actually travelled into Europe in their 2CV, busking along the way and ended up not speaking to each other for a decade or three only reconciling shortly before McKenna's death.


13 Oct 21 - 07:14 AM (#4122760)
Subject: RE: 2021 Obit: Tony MacMahon
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge

A fine box player, whatever else he did- I heard him many times at the Sunday morning sessions at the Favourite pub , off Holloway Road in London.

   Jimmy Power would end the session (sometimes continued outside!) at
2 pm with a loud ' Have youse no homes to go to- Roast Beef & Yorkshire pudding'- RIP Tony M- there's a lovely track or two of him on the Topic LP from the pub..