Liam O'Flynn (b 1950)

Liam was born in County Kildare. His father played the fiddle and his mother played the piano. After his first encounter with the uillean pipes, the greatest influences of his development were Leo Rowsome (1907 - 1970), Willie Clancy (1918 - 1973) and Séamus Ennis (1912 - 1982). Liam won recognition by winning prizes at the Oireachtas Festival and the Fleadh Ceoil in the 1960s.

He became a founder member of Planxty. The Chieftains were the first to record Irish traditional instrumental music in a group format, but Planxty took it one step further. They brought a punch and vitality to acoustic music that owed more to rock than classical music. Liam brought an emotional excitement to uillean pipes. The instrument had previously been associated with the strict discipline of highland bagpipers. After Planxty he easily found work as a session musician. He has worked with the Everly Brothers, Enya, Kate Bush, Nigel Kennedy and Mark Knopfler. He has also worked on film scores - "A River Runs Through It", "Kidnapped" and others. He was adventurous enough to work with avant-garde composer John Cage, but his most natural alliance was with neo-romantic composer Shaun Davey. Together they recorded symphonic music with its heart on its sleeve.

The Bothy Band were natural successors to Planxty and two of their members - Sean Keane and Matt Molloy - recorded on one of Liam's best albums, "The Piper's Call". It was performed in the 1999 Proms season at the Albert Hall. He has also worked on projects with Seamus Heaney, mixing poetry with music. He will be in demand for many years to come.

Discography

Liam O'Flynn with Shaun Davey - The Brendan Voyage (1980) - The Pilgrim (1983) - Granuaile (1985) - The Relief Of Derry Symphony (1990) - Out To Another Side (1993)

Liam O'Flynn solo - Liam O'Flynn (1988) - The Fine Art Of Piping (1991) - The Given Note (1995) - The Piper's Call (1999)