School Band photo of Scoil Mhuire national school, Marino 1951, featuring Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains on pipes, and John Sheehan of the Dubliners on fiddle
School Band photo of Scoil Mhuire national school, Marino 1951, featuring Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains on pipes, and John Sheehan of the Dubliners on fiddle
8 comments
My friend Peter posted this on Facebook, this is what he wrote
I found an interesting photo among my late Dad’s collection. Scoil Mhuire (the primary school in Dublin myself and my dad both went to) school band, 1951. My dad is the tall, last tin whistle player on the right of the middle row. But that’s not the interesting thing about the photo.
Seated on the left of the front row is the legendary piper Paddy Moloney of renowned Irish traditional music band The Chieftains (winners of six Grammys). The fiddle player at the very end in the right of the back row is the legendary John Sheahan from The equally renowned Irish folk music group The Dubliners. The fiddle player standing beside my dad is Liam Rowsome, a neighbour of my Dad’s, son of the legendary uillean pipe maker/player/teacher Leo Rowsome. Leo recently had a plaque dedicated to him at the top of the road.
Some amazing Irish musical heritage in one simple school photo. I’m stretching things a bit here, but it’s almost the Irish trad/folk equivalent of having a school photo containing a member of The Beatles, a member of The Stones and Brian May’s son all in it.
Paddy Moloney didn’t change much!
That’s an incredible photo.
I went to scoil mhuire in the mid 90’s. My teacher heard I had taken up guitar and got me into to the chieftains after telling me the history they had with the school. I was half enthusiastic about guitar but after listening to the chieftains, I took a journey; the Dubliners, Horslips, Thin Lizzy etc.
I even went back and did My Ty work experience in the school, taught the kids some songs to sing for the principal.
Currently a working musician and that teacher is now principal.
Never underestimate the value of appreciating your history, no matter where you are. And don’t be afraid to tell the young ones about it.
It was great school, I was there in the early 90s, I never knew this and I was in the pipe band!
I believe I have a: seen this picture before and b: one of my uncles is in there. I just can’t zoom properly on this machine to tell you who 😀
r/irishmusic might like this.
I want to know who the kid middle row centre is. The one with the flute up his nose.