The musician was a cultural ambassador for his country and won numerous Grammy Awards.
He is credited with the revival of Irish folk music.
He recovered the traditional music of his country for the general public and was therefore appointed ambassador of his country, Ireland. This Tuesday Paddy Moloney, founder, and leader of the group The Chieftains has passed away. He has died in Dublin, the city where he was also born 83 years ago. At this time, a cause of death has not been released. however, he might have died due to old age.
The legendary artist, the winner of six Grammy Awards with The Chieftains and a great master of wind instruments, such as the Gaelic bagpipes or the Irish flute, was married with three children. Born in the north of Dublin, in the bosom of a family of musicians, he began from a very young age to form different groups, with the intention of undertaking an evolution of traditional Irish folk.
He hit the mark in November 1962 by forming The Chieftains in his own home, originally with Seán Potts (Irish flute), Michael Tubridy (Irish flute), and Seán Keane (violin). After several changes, the band consolidated in 1979 with Keane, Kevin Conneff (‘bodhrán’ – Irish drum – and voice), and Matt Molloy (flutes).
According to the Irish press, the acclaimed multi-instrumentalist was one of the main contributors to the revival of Irish traditional and folk music. The Chieftains became one of the best-known traditional Irish groups in the world, winning six Grammy Awards. The Irish government formally recognized them as cultural ambassadors in 1989. Moloney was also the author of some themes for soundtracks for such important films as Martin Scorsesse’s Gangs of New York, nominated for 10 Oscars.
The Irish Traditional Music Archive, which announced the death of the musician on social media, has highlighted that Moloney “made an enormous contribution to traditional Irish music, song and dance ” and that “few people can claim to have the level of impact that Paddy Moloney had on the vitality of traditional music around the world. ”
Irish President Michael D. Higgins mourned Moloney’s death: “The Irish music community, and the community around the world who found so much inspiration in his work, will have learned today with great sadness of Paddy Moloney’s passing.” Higgins said in a statement. “Paddy, with his extraordinary abilities as an instrumentalist, particularly the uilleann flutes and the bodhran, was at the forefront of the revival of interest in Irish music, bringing a greater appreciation of Irish music and culture internationally,” lamented the Irish President.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
