Paddy Ryan

Born in Ballinagare, near Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. I learned my music locally, mostly self taught. My maternal grandfather, Pat Murphy, and uncle, Tom Murphy, were both fiddlers. There were several generations of musicians in the Murphys. I started on tin whistle at 8 years of age and went on to fiddle 3 years later. I also played a little on Piano Accordion, Button Accordion and Banjo Mandolin but the fiddle became the main instrument. I joined Comhaltas in October, 1956, when a branch was started in the nearby village of Tulsk by local schoolmaster, Bill McHale.

In 1957, along with other local musicians, I was founder member of the Killina ceili band, which is still in existence. The band quickly became very popular all over Ireland and abroad, and broadcast on radio and television on numerous occasions over the years.

I went to Birmingham, England in 1967, and lived there for 9 years, during which time I became deeply involved in traditional music activities, including teaching music to young people, children of Irish emigrants. I was also deeply involved in Comhaltas activities there. I was Chairman of the Provincial Council of Britain from 1971 to end of 1976, when I returned permanently to my native place. I immediately became involved in teaching music, which I have been doing ever since. I also became very active in Comhaltas activities and, over the years I have been Branch Secretary, County Board PRO, Provincial Treasurer and National Oifigeach Cheoil (Music Officer), a position which I have held since 1986. I have been adjudicating traditional music competitions for more than 40 years and, in more recent times, I have been involved in conducting adjudicator training seminars in Ireland, Britain, the United States and Canada. I have been involved in setting up the diploma course for traditional music teachers (TTCT) and I have acted as tutor and lecturer on the course. I am an examiner in the SCT traditional music examinations since they were started in 1999. For the last 15 years I have produced and presented regular weekly traditional music programmes on local radio, Shannonside/Northern Sound FM (4 hours per week), which have proved highly successful. Finally, for many years I have been teaching, lecturing, organising and running Scoil Eigse, the annual Summer school of traditional music, song and dance, run by Comhaltas in the week leading up to Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.