Eamon Coyne

Musicians of Roscommon: Courtesy of The Knotted Chord Archive


Eamon Coyne(1927-93) Fiddle.

Born in County Roscommon he emigrated to Liverpool as a young man and lived there until his death. While still a teenager, in the late 1940’s, he began playing at Ceilis run by the local Gaelic League.

He was a founder member of the Liverpool Ceili Band in 1957 and played with them until his death. The band won Oireachtas titles in 1962, 63 and 1964 and added the All Ireland Senior Ceili Band titles in 1963 and 1964. Unfortunately none of the recordings they made around this time are commercially available.

In later years Eamon along with his sons contributed to the English folk singer/musician Mike Hardings album "Plutonium Alley".

Eamonn was with the Liverpool on their tours to Ireland over the years which included annual visits to the traditional music festival in Kilmihil, County Clare which is still remembered fondly.

He taught music with the Liverpool branch of Comhaltas for many years, was one of their main organisers, and also adjudicated at many Fleadhs in Britain.

Eamonn, as well as being a highly regarded musician, always had a great stage presence, a sense of fun, and acted as a connection between band and audience.

The Liverpool branch of Comhaltas made Eamonn their Honorary Life President and a festival, Feile Cheoil, is held in his honour in Liverpool.


His sons Terry(flute, singer), Mick(pipes, singer) and Eamon(fiddle) have each established themselves in their own right with a number of recordings between them and cut their teeth early with the Liverpool Ceili band.(FV)