[1] Paddy O'Brien was born in Castlebarnagh, a small townland outside of Daingean, County Offaly, in the Midlands of Ireland.

From an early age, he was interested in traditional music, and played in competitions and on television for RTE.

He has played and toured with other Irish traditional musicians, including James Kelly, Martin Hayes, Susan McKeown, Tommy Peoples, Peter Ostroushko, Patrick Ourceau, and others at concerts and festivals in North America, Ireland, and Europe.

The result was Volume One of The Paddy OBrien Tune Collection: A Personal Treasury of Irish Traditional Music.

O'Brien currently tours nationally and internationally as a solo musician and with his trio Chulrua, and also plays dances and concerts around the American midwest with his seven-piece Irish traditional music group, O'Rourke's Feast.