Paddy Glackin

Paddy Glackin (b 1954) is an Irish fiddler from Dublin. His father Tom Glackin was from Donegal and Paddy's fiddle style reflects his family's Donegal roots. Glackin is considered one of the leading Irish fiddlers in the late 20th/early 21st centuries. He became fiddle champion at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in 1973. Glackin's primary influence came from Donegal fiddlers, most prominently John Doherty the legendary travelling fiddler whom Glackin always sites as his main influence. His influences are not limited to Donegal however, he also cites fiddlers such as John Kelly, Tommy Potts and Padraig O'Keeffe as important in shaping his overall approach.

Paddy was an original member of the legendary Bothy Band when they were named Seachtar. The original line-up included Irish music legends Matt Molloy, Donal Lunny, Paddy Keenan, Tony MacMahon, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill. When the group decided to become professional Paddy left and eventually became political and sports editor for RTÉ radio, Ireland's national broadcaster.

While maintaining his profession in RTÉ Paddy has continued to perform and record Irish music. He has released many recordings including seminal ones such as 'Doublin' with the piper Paddy Keenan and 'In Full Spate' with Donal Lunny, his debut solo recording 'Ceoil ar an bhFidil le Paddy Glackin' featured some tracks with his father Tom and his brothers Kevin Glackin and Séamus Glackin. Kevin and Séamus would later release an acclaimed duet recording 'Northern Lights'.

Paddy's most recent recordings are 'The Whirlwind' a duet album with the piper Robbie Hannon and 'Reprise' with his former Bothy Band colleague the late Mícheál Ó Domhnaill.

Although Glackin is quite outspoken in his preference for a pure soloists approach to the tradition he has been involved in a number of experimental recordings including 'Roaratorio' by the American avant-garde composer John Cage and 'Hidden Ground' a recording from 1980 made with the late multi-instrumentalist Jolyon Jackson which is notable for its use of synthesizers alongside Glackin's pure traditional fiddle playing. While this recording has not dated well it anticipated the trend for mixing traditional Irish music with synthesizers that continues into the 21st Century.

Glackin continues to perform and he teaches annually at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Clare.

Discography

* Paddy Glackin & others, "Ceoltoiri Laighean - The Crooked Road," (1973) Gael-Linn Records CEF 035
* Paddy Glackin & others, "Ceoltoiri Laighean - The Star of Munster," (1975) Gael-Linn CEF 047
* Paddy Glackin, "Glackin," (1977) Gael-Linn CEF 060
* Paddy Glackin & Paddy Keenan, "Doublin'" (1978) Tara 2007
* Paddy Glackin & others, "An Fhidil, Vol. 2," (1980) Gael-Linn CEF 069
* Paddy Glackin, Mick Gavin, Michael O'Brien, "The Flags of Dublin," (1980) Topic 12TS383
* Paddy Glackin & Jolyon Jackson, "Hidden Ground" (1980) Tara 2009
* Paddy Glackin, "In Full Spate," (1991) Gael-Linn CEFCD 153
* Paddy Glackin & Robbie Hannan, "Seidean Si" (1995) Gael-Linn CEFCD 171
* Paddy Glackin & others, "Na Connerys - Celtic Sessions" (1997) Honest HON CD 3006 (now on Celtic Note)
* Paddy Glackin & others, "Na Connerys - Part 2, Fire in Our Hearts" (c 1998-9) Celtic Note CNCD 1003
* Paddy Glackin & Michael O'Domhnaill, "Reprise" (2001) Gael-Linn CEFCD 180

As a guest musician
* Triona Ni Dhomhnaill, "Triona" (1975) Gael-Linn CEF 043
* Paddy Keenan, "Paddy Keenan" (1975) Gael-Linn CEF 045
* Mick Hanly, "A Kiss in the Morning Early" (1976) Mulligan LUN 005
* John Cage "Roaratorio" (1980) Mode 28/29
* Mick Hanly, "As I Went Over Blackwater" (1980) Mulligan LUN 040
* Oisin, "Over the Moor to Maggie" (1980) Tara 2012, 1980
* Michael O'Suilleabhain, "Cry of the Mountain" (1981) Gael-Linn CEF 079
* Oisin, "The Jeannie-C" (1982) Tara 2013
* John Regan, "Let Down the Blade" (1999) BeaumeX BMCD 571

Bibliography

* Cranitch, Matt, The Irish Fiddle Book, Ossian, 1988.
* Feldman, Allen and O'Doherty, Eamonn, The Northern Fiddler, Oak Publications, 1979.
* MacAoidh, Caoimhin, Between The Jigs and The Reels, Drumlin Publications, 1995.
* Vallely, Fintan (ed.), The Companion to Traditional Irish Music. Cork University Press, Cork, 1999.

External reference

* [http://www.allcelticmusic.com/index.html?s=artists&m=artists&c=view&artist_id=90 Biography]