Liam O’Flynn (Liam Óg Ó Floinn)
1945-2018

photo by Robin Hiteshew

Irish music lost its master piper on March 14th with the death of Liam O’Flynn after a long illness. Long regarded as the greatest piper of his generation his musical career was long and varied. He grew up in a musical family in Kill County, Kildare, and began lessons on the pipes at age eleven with master piper Leo Rowesome. He was also influenced by other pipers Séamus Ennis and Willie Clancy. He soon won recognition, winning the Oireachtas Festival and All Ireland titles on the pipes.

In the 1970s, he was a founding member of the great band Planxty (with Christy Moore, Donal Lunny and Andy Irvine). Along with the Bothy Band, Planxty was credited with the huge growth of interest in traditional Irish music to younger generations around the world.

After the break-up of Planxty in 1983, Liam toured on his own and with fiddle player Paddy Glackin. He had a strong connection to Philadelphia and played three times in concerts I produced for the Philadelphia Ceili Group. He also was a guest of the folklorist Kenny Goldstein visiting the University of Pennsylvania several times to speak with his students about Irish music and piping.

His musical legacy is great producing five acclaimed solo recordings as well as the Planxty catalogue. He also appeared on a number of other artist’s recordings. He is widely known for his collaboration with composer Shaun Davey on the Brendan Voyage CD. Liam also performed with orchestras in Ireland in pieces written to showcase uillean pipes.

Throughout his travels and performances he also found time to pursue his other great love of horsemanship in his native Kildare riding most days he was not on the road travelling. He is universally regarded as a gentleman and accessible to young pipers sharing his love for traditional Irish music. His contribution to Irish music is significant and the recordings are a testament to his gift for playing with integrity and soulfulness.