PADDY TUNNEY
(1921 - 2002)
‘In the world of Irish traditional singing in the English language, Paddy was simply “the king”.’
Séamus Mac Mathúna [Singer, Musician and Collector]
Paddy Tunney
Paddy Tunney was born in the shadow of the Blochairn Steel Works in Garngad, Glasgow, an area then home to a large Irish community. At the time, his father worked in the steelworks, while his mother kept house.
When Paddy was just two weeks old, the family moved to Rushen, County Donegal. Six years later, they settled in County Fermanagh.
A Family Singing Tradition
Paddy was born into a network of families whose singing tradition stretched back many generations. His first song teacher was his maternal grandfather, and he went on to learn songs from uncles, aunts, great-uncles, great-aunts, and many neighbours.
This rich family and community tradition became the foundation of his life’s work as a singer, collector, broadcaster, and storyteller.
A Family Singing Tradition
Paddy was born into a network of families whose singing tradition stretched back many generations. His first song teacher was his maternal grandfather, and he went on to learn songs from uncles, aunts, great-uncles, great-aunts, and many neighbours.
This rich family and community tradition became the foundation of his life’s work as a singer, collector, broadcaster, and storyteller.
Recording and Broadcast Work
Over the course of his lifetime, Paddy made many solo albums and appeared on numerous compilations. These included Where the Linnets Sing, where he can be heard alongside his mother and other family members.
He began broadcasting for Radio Éireann in 1952 and later worked with the BBC. Among his collaborators were Seán Mac Réamoinn, Seán O Boyle, and Peter Kennedy.
Throughout the 1960s, Paddy wrote and presented many programmes for RTÉ Radio. In the 1980s, he collaborated with RTÉ’s Ciarán Mac Mathúna on a four-part radio documentary about Irish traditional singing.
He also worked with BBC producer Tony McCauley, scripting and presenting two award-winning television documentaries on the traditions of the area around his home in west Fermanagh.
In 2001, Paddy was the subject of an episode of the TG4 documentary series Sé Mo Laoch.
Legacy and Influence
Paddy Tunney was once described by Ewan MacColl as “the greatest lyrical folksinger in the English language”. Singer Paul Brady simply called him “a giant” in the world of traditional singing. His family songs have entered the repertoires of countless singers and musicians, including The Chieftains, Planxty, Dolores Keane, Altan, Dervish, Cara Dillon, Rita Gallagher, and many others.
Recordings
Paddy Tunney can be heard on a wide range of recordings, including:
The Lark in the Morning — Tradition, 1957
A Man’s in Love Feels No Cold — Folktrax 164
The Man of Songs — Folk Legacy, 1962
A Wild Bees’ Nest — Topic, 1965
The Irish Edge — Topic, 1966
Ireland Her Own — Topic, 1966
The Mountain Streams — Topic, 1975
The Flowery Vale — Topic, 1976
The Stone Fiddle — Green Linnet, 1981
Where the Linnets Sing — Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, 1999
The Flax in Bloom — Topic, 2014
We welcome all who share a love of or an interest in traditional song, whether you are a singer, listener, researcher, or supporter. Together, we can keep these songs alive, ensuring they continue to be sung, shared, and celebrated for generations to come.