Death Of Fiddler Sean McGuire

One of Ireland's most influential traditional musicians, Seán McGuire, has
died in hospital in Belfast.

His recordings of Irish tradit! ional fiddle music had a major impact on the
tradition from the 1950s, when his first records were released.

He was born in Belfast on December 26th, 1927, into a musical family. His
father, John, played piccolo, concert flute, whistle and fiddle.

At the age of 12 Seán began his fiddle playing and while a teenager he was
first violinist with the Belfast Youth Orchestra. He turned down an
invitation to join the Belfast Symphony Orchestra because he felt more at
home playing traditional music.

He became an all-round musician playing the piano, guitar, concert flute,
whistle and uilleann pipes. In 1948 he joined the Malachy Sweeney Céilí Band
and played alongside his father, John, and another fine musician Johnny
Pickering. He formed the Seán McGuire Céilí Band, playing all over Ireland
and England and made a number of solo, group and céilí band albums. He later
played with the Four Star Quartet.

He brought traditional Irish music to audiences all over the world playing
with Gael Linn, and in the 1960s and 1970s he toured with his friend,
accordionist Joe Burke, and with the Dubliners' Barney McKenna.

His versions of Irish tunes, especially the reel The Mason's Apron, played
at breakneck speed, using techniques which were not used before in Irish
fiddling, was an awe-inspiring trademark of a true craftsman.

In Belfast in the 1980s he gave classes at the Clonard Traditional Music
School, run by the McPeakes, and later the Andersonstown Music School.

In 1983 cancer of the throat forced him to withdrew from public performance
and he had a tracheotomy.

He recovered and in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, in 1988, performers
from across the globe joined to celebrate his birthday with a special
concert.

Last January he suffered a stroke and was admitted to hospital in Belfast
where he died yesterday.

Tributes were led by Mary Cloake, director of the Arts Council, who said he
had challenged the boundaries of traditional fiddle playing.

A special obituary Late Session programme will be broadcast on Sunday night
on RTÉ Radio One at 10pm.
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