2024 Obit: Francis McPeake

Subject: Obit: Francis McPeake
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 14 Oct 24 - 05:02 AM

Tribute

Saddened by the news of the death of Francie McPeake, FMcP III, if you like.

Singer, banjoplayer, whistler and piper. One claim to fame was him teaching John Lennon the pipes. Lennon eventually returned the pipes to him.

There's a lot more to be said, perhaps. The McPeakes taught generations of Belfast teenagers traditional music, taking them on annual trips to Clare. To take partin the Willie Clancy week and partly to take them away from the strains of Belfast during the marching season. It's there I came across Francie over the years. Mat he rest well.

Subject: RE: Obit: Francis McPeake
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 14 Oct 24 - 05:09 AM

This is very much how I remember him.

Subject: RE: 2024 Obit: Francis McPeake
From: Felipa
Date: 14 Oct 24 - 11:51 AM

I looked at the photo (link in Peter Laban's photo). He was younger and thinner than that, Peter, the times I met/saw/heard Francie, so my memories are different. Though I think of him more as a musician than a teacher, Francies work with young people was invaluable.

Subject: RE: 2024 Obit: Francis McPeake
From: Felipa
Date: 14 Oct 24 - 11:54 AM

The photo in the first link is closer to how I remember Francie; I remembered the bent finger too. There's a tune called "The Piper with the Broken Finger" or "The Piper's Broken Finger".

Subject: RE: 2024 Obit: Francis McPeake
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 14 Oct 24 - 01:21 PM

I have older photos of him as well, probably going back to the late eighties. This one was pre-covid but I would have to look up the exact date. I lifted it off the ITMA site for convenience, from a gallery put up when I was photographer in residence in 2021. But him singing, with Eugene backing him, that's how he appeared most often in those years.

Subject: RE: 2024 Obit: Francis McPeake
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 15 Oct 24 - 10:40 AM

The McPeake family : in their own words

Subject: RE: 2024 Obit: Francis McPeake
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 19 Oct 24 - 11:04 AM

I have added Francis McPeake to the thread today. He was a world renowned singer and player who, with "The McPeakes" sang and played with many famous folk singers over the years. He was an expert on the Uilleann pipes and shared his love of them through concerts, personal appearances and teaching. He will be very much missed. RIP

I have also added Cyril O’Donoghue to the roll. He was another very successful musician and travelled the world singing and playing the guitar and bouzouki. Like Francis, he never forgot his roots in the Irish traditional music scene. Two giants of Irish Folk Music. RIP