A product of County Offaly, in Ireland, Paddy O’Brien is regarded by serious players and collectors of Irish traditional music as one of the tradition’s most important repositories; in a career that spans nearly fifty years, he has collected more than 3,000 compositions—jigs, reels, hornpipes, airs, and marches, including many rare and unusual tunes. He provides an important bridge between the prior generations of players, and today’s up and coming Irish musicians.
Paddy is sought out as a thoughtful and capable teacher for traditional music workshops, and has taught at the prestigious Willie Clancy Summer School held in Milltown Malbay, County Clare, the Swannanoa Gathering, the Catskills Irish Arts Week, Irish Week by the Sea in Nova Scotia, the Celtic College in Goderich, Ontario, and at the Yachats Celtic Festival, among others.
Paddy currently tours and records with Irish traditional trio Chulrua, The Doon Céilí Band, and lively 7 piece ensemble, O’Rourke’s Feast.