Colm Broderick & Patrick Finley

Link to youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgfkJwdo670

General Bio:

Colm Broderick (County Carlow, Ireland) and Patrick Finley (Atlanta, Georgia) have created a wonderful partnership in Irish traditional music. Colm is a multiple All-Ireland champion piper and was selected by Na Píobairí Uilleann as the inheritor of Liam Ó Floinn’s pipes, on Liam’s death in 2018. Having recently been awarded the Gold medal at the Seán O’Riada Bonn Oir competition in Baile Mhuirne, Co. Cork, Colm was invited to a private reception in Áras an Uachtaráin hosted by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins. While here Colm performed a private concert for the president.

Patrick, a multiple All-Ireland champion fiddler, plays with a unique style with influences from Sligo and Clare music. Patrick began playing the fiddle at the age of four, joining the Atlanta Irish Music School, and eventually studying with Sligo fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada. Patrick is also an experienced music teacher, having co-founded the Phoenix School of Irish Arts in Atlanta, teaching Irish music on a variety of instruments.

Together, they focus on creating a refreshingly traditional style of music on the pipes and fiddle.

Fiddle Workshop Description:

Patrick will teach a tune, taking it apart to examine elements like variations, ornamentation, rhythm, and tone. More time will be spent on exploring the tune and thinking about different interpretations of it, and less on learning and perfecting the tune itself. All skill levels are welcome, but some familiarity with the instrument, as well as being able to play a few tunes, is recommended.

Pipes Workshop Description:

Colm will teach a tune or two, primarily aimed at uilleann pipers, but whistle and flute players are more than welcome. Colm is also happy to talk about the incredible Rowsome pipes during this workshop. All skill levels are encouraged to take part, although the workshop will be primarily aimed at students who have some proficiency playing tunes already.

COLM’S REMARKABLE INSTRUMENT

Colm has been tasked with playing a set of pipes which once belonged to master piper Liam O’Flynn. This instrument was made in Dublin in 1938 by another master piper in his own right, Leo Rowsome. The instrument were deemed a ‘deluxe model’ by their maker. The pipes were made for a man called Sean Reid. This is a name synonymous with traditional music in Ireland. Sean was a founder member of the influential Tulla Ceilí Band and was also instrumental in giving poor Irish musicians a stage in which to showcase their talent by organizing events at which they could play, recording them and giving them lifts in his car all over the country. One of these people who Sean helped was Willie Clancy. Clancy was another master of the uilleann pipes who’s influence on the world of uilleann piping is still seen today though the highly popular Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy (Willie Clancy Week) in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare. Sean Reid gave Willie Clancy a loan of the instrument for a number of years. Once Clancy was finished with the set they were given to Liam O’Flynn who conquered the world of folk music through his membership of the famous Irish music group ‘Planxty’. Liam continued to break barriers using this instrument, being the first Irish musician to collaborate with a classical orchestra. Liam continued to collaborate with many more musicians from different cultures and traditions until his untimely passing in 2018. The pipes were given to the association of uilleann pipers in Ireland Na Píobairí Uilleann, who were tasked with finding someone to take the mantle of playing this wonderful and historic instrument.

FURTHER PERSONAL BACKGROUNDS

Colm Broderick Background:

Colm Broderick is a multi award winning and All-Ireland champion Uilleann piper from County Carlow. Taught initially by local musicians Nadia Crooke, Ciarán Somers and John Tuohy, he flourished from expert tuition at workshops throughout the country. Colm is now high in demand as a teacher and performer in Ireland and further afield.

Colm has performed at events nationally from a young age, playing at many concerts, recitals, gala dinners, dignitary reception events, etc. More recently he has been in demand as a touring musician, having performed in Spain, France and Germany.

He has been given the honour of taking possession of a very special instrument of great historical significance in Ireland. It is a set of uilleann pipes once owned by master piper Liam O’Flynn, which also has deep rooted connections to other top uilleann pipers throughout history. These include, to name a few, Sean Reid, Willie Clancy and Leo Rowsome. Colm is tasked with playing and looking after this special instrument and carrying on its legacy.

Colm having recently been awarded the Gold medal on the uilleann pipes at the Seán O’Riada Bonn Oir competition in Baile Mhuirne, Co. Cork was invited to a private reception in Áras an Uachtaráin hosted by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins. While here Colm performed a private concert for the president.

Patrick Finley Background:

Patrick Finley from Atlanta, Georgia is a 2-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion. Patrick chose to play the fiddle at an early age and joined the Atlanta Irish Music School when he was four years old. He quickly became a regular suspect at all of the workshops, events and festivals across the US, and later, Ireland.

Patrick’s style of play has strong influences from both Sligo, where his family is from, and Clare. Having grown up so far from any major Irish music communities, his playing is a unique mixture influenced by a wide range of musicians. Patrick has played on stage with some of the most renowned bands in Irish music today, such as Altan, The Pride of New York, The Brock McGuire Band, and others. Patrick recently co-founded the Phoenix School of Irish Arts in Atlanta, and teaches musicians and groups of all ages on a variety of instruments.

"Patrick is one of the top young fiddlers playing Irish music anywhere in the world today, playing with a maturity and style beyond his years." - Oisín Mac Diarmada