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)