Paddy Murphy (musician)

Paddy Murphy was born in the rural community of Fiach Roe in the musically rich heartland of west County Clare (Ireland).

Emigration from the Irish countryside was reaching critical mass, but Murphy chose to remain at home on a mountainy farm.

During the next fifty years, he would become one of the most celebrated concertina players in Ireland, responsible for developing a unique fingering system and for passing on his skills to a new and eager generation of teachers and performers.

His victory at the 1954 All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Cavan marked the first appearance of the concertina in a national music competition.

He was also a gifted teacher and his students included Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin, Noel Hill,[1] Gerald Haugh and Miriam Collins.