Musicians of Cork: (Courtesy of The Knotted Chord Archive).


Connie O’Connell(1943- ) Fiddle.

Born in Kilnamartra, in the Muscrai(Muskerry) Gaeltacht district of West Cork. His father’s family had a history of fiddle playing, and his mother played melodeon at local house dances. His main influences when he was young was the Sliabh Luachra musicians Padraig O’Keeffe and Denis Murphy. That Sliabh Luachra influence in style and repertoire continues to be most influential in his playing.

He appeared on a Comhaltas recording with Seamus MacMathuna, flute player >from West Clare and Jimmy Doyle, accordion player from Gneeveguilla, County Kerry, in the late 1980’s called "Ceol go Maidin".

His solo cd was released in 2000 and is called "Ceol Cill Na Martra(Music (from Cill na Martra)" on the Shanachie label.

This recording includes a number of his own compositions, of which there are many, and refers further to the musical influences throughout his life. Among those names is Denis McMahon, Nicky McAuliffe, Johnny O’Leary, Julia Clifford, Billy Clifford all part of the Sliabh Luachra musical heritage and Dan Cronin and Willie Clancy who had associations with the area.

Connie is a teaching member of the Music department at University College Cork.


His daughter Aine is also a highly respected fiddle player. (FV)