Finbarr Dwyer (often misspelled as "Finbar Dwyer") (20 September 1946 â 8 February 2014) was a traditional Irish accordion player from the famed Dwyer musical family. He was born in Castletownbere, County Cork on 20 September 1946, began playing accordion at the age of three, and began composing at the age of nine. Both of his parents played accordion and his father also played fiddle. His brothers Richard and Michael (died 1996) likewise played accordion, while his brother John, born in 1933, played fiddle. In 1969 he won the All-England accordion title. He died on 8 February 2014, in Mallow, County Cork, Ireland.
Compositions
The following tunes have been credited as compositions by Finbarr Dwyer in commercial recordings by a variety of Irish traditional musicians:
There are more tunes that have been credited to Finbarr Dwyer, but have either not been commercially recorded by other musicians or have only been credited to him according to less reliable sources.
Discography
This may not yet be a complete discography. Some of the Outlet releases listed below may in fact be reissues or compilations of each other's material.
- Finbarr Dwyer with Teresa McMahon. Irish Traditional Accordionist. Outlet OLP 1004, 1970. Finbarr Dwyer, accordion. Teresa McMahon, piano. Recorded at International Studios, Belfast. Producer: Billy McBurney. Engineer: Cel Fay.
- One track from this album, "Trim the Velvet / Berehaven," was included on The Champions. 9 Outlet champions play 16 of their best tracks of Irish traditional music, Outlet SOLP 1023, 1974.
- Reissue: Finbarr Dwyer with Teresa McMahon. Pure Traditional Irish Accordion Music. Outlet PTI CD 1004, 1994. Finbarr Dwyer, accordion. Teresa McMahon, piano. Contents: The pigeon on the gate; GillespiesâÂÂHill 60; The spring wellâÂÂThe pipe on the job; Kitty's ramblesâÂÂWest the hill; The Druid's fieldâÂÂThe fries breechesâÂÂBanish misfortune; Tatter Jack WelshâÂÂTrim the velvet; BerehavenâÂÂThe groves of Slaney; The iron gateâÂÂPaddy Ryan's dream; Farewell to CailroeâÂÂFinbarr Dwyer's no. 2; The meadowâÂÂThe concert flute; Upstairs in a tentâÂÂJohn Dwyer's; Paddy Taylor's.
- Reissue exactly as above but with original title: Finbarr Dwyer with Teresa McMahon. Irish Traditional Accordionist. Outlet PTI CD 1004, 1994.
- Five tracks from this album were included in the 2-volume anthology Festival of Traditional Irish Music first released as Outlet Records CHCD 1037, 1994. See a corrected contents listing of that anthology at irishtune.info.
- Four tracks from this album were reissued as Finbarr Dwyer's contributions to this compilation: Joe Burke, Finbarr Dwyer, Kevin Loughlin and John Whelan. Titled either Session with Four Accordion Champions as Outlet SOLP 1027, or Pure Irish Traditional Accordion. Session with Four Irish Champions, as Outlet PTI CD 1027. See a corrected contents listing at irishtune.info.
- Reissue: As CD 2, Finbarr Dwyer, of the 10-CD packaged set Celtic Souls. Irish Celtic Ballads & Traditional Music. IML Irish Music Licensing, released 5 September 1996. . See a corrected contents listing at irishtune.info.
- Reissue: Finbar [sic] Dwyer. Kitty's Rambles. All Media Entertainment, SICD5015, 2007 and/or 2009, released 9 April 2009.
- Finbarr Dwyer. The Best of Finbarr Dwyer. Outlet OLP 1011, 1971. With Teresa McMahon (piano). Contents: Side A-1: 1/ Paddy Kelly's Reel (P Kelly) â 2/ Finbar Dwyer's No. 1 & Mary McMahon (trad) reelsâÂÂ3/ Reevey's & The Bees Wing (trad) hornpipesâÂÂ4/ The Mason's Apron (trad) reelâÂÂ5/ Paddy Fahy's Favourite (trad) / Paddy Murphy's Wife (trad) reelsâÂÂ6/ The Golden Eagle (trad) & The Sunshine Hornpipes (trad). Side A-2: 1/ John Dwyer's Reels (J.Dwyer) & Reevey's (trad) â 2/ Paddy Fah's (sic) Jig (P. Fahy) & Hideout (jigs) â 3/ Cosgraves (trad) & The Laughing Reel (L. Dwyer) (reels) â 4/ The Wheels of the World (trad) & Pinch of Snuff (reels) â 5/ Sheik Billy (F. Dwyer) & The Copper Beech (F. Dwyer) (reels) â 6/ The College Grove (trad) (reel)
- The fourth track from this album, "The Mason's Apron" was included on The Champions. 9 Outlet champions play 16 of their best tracks of Irish traditional music, Outlet SOLP 1023, 1974.
- The same track, "The Mason's Apron," was also included in the 2-volume anthology Festival of Traditional Irish Music first released as Outlet Records CHCD 1037, 1994. See a corrected contents listing of that anthology at irishtune.info.
- Finbarr Dwyer. Ireland's Own Traditional Accordionist. Finbarr Dwyer, accordion. Teresa McMahon, piano. Outlet OLP 1016, 1971. Contents: Sean in a Fog (Sean Sa Cheo) cut #A.01aâÂÂGuager cut #A.01bâÂÂFather Kelly's [Reel] cut #A.02aâÂÂMamma's Pet cut #A.02bâÂÂRoss Favourite (Jig) cut #A.03âÂÂJenny's Welcome to Charlie cut #A.04âÂÂRyan's (Hornpipe) cut #A.05aâÂÂHigh Level (Bridge) Hornpipe cut #A.05bâÂÂSligo Maid, cut #A.06aâÂÂSally Gardens cut #A.06bâÂÂPaddy Kelly's (Reel) cut #B.01âÂÂGalway Hornpipe cut #B.02âÂÂBetty's Fancy cut #B.03aâÂÂGrant's Reel cut #B.03bâÂÂPaddy Taylors Fancy cut #B.04aâÂÂNew York Jig cut #B.04bâÂÂAugrim Jig cut #B.05âÂÂJohnny Allen's (Reel) cut #B.06aâÂÂShoemaker's Daughter cut #B.06b
- Finbarr Dwyer. Star of Ireland. Silver Hill PSH 106, 1976. Traditional music arranged by Dwyer. Program notes on container by Frank Conroy. Contents: Mulhare's; Miss McLeod's â Teelin reel; Star of IrelandâÂÂAhearne's egg; Fahy's â Tom Wall's downfall; Floggin reelâÂÂHigh levelâÂÂPaddy Fahy's; Canadian no. 2 â Star of Munster; Jimmy's follyâÂÂMoving cloud; The dawnâÂÂDead piper; My darling asleepâÂÂMahoney's reelâÂÂLarry Reddigan's reelsâÂÂCooley's; Joe O'Malley's favourite.
- Finbarr Dwyer. Ireland's Champion Traditional Accordionist. Outlet SOLP 1032, 1977.
- Finbarr Dwyer. Gems for Accordion. Audiocassette. Tara, n.d.
- Finbarr Dwyer. Accordion Music from the Soul. 2007. Contents: Finbarr Dwyer's FancyâÂÂRichard Dwyers jigsâÂÂRakish Paddy; The crib of perchesâÂÂThe fly by nightâÂÂClais an admid; Paddy Kelly's fancyâÂÂWaltz of the birdsâÂÂFinbarr Dwyer's favourite; Emelda Roland's reelâÂÂThe Lake Shore; The exile's returnâÂÂMolly BawnâÂÂPaddy Fahy's; The old thatched cabinâÂÂWhistling Rufus; Marching through GeorgiaâÂÂAlpine slopes. See a corrected contents listing at irishtune.info.
- Robbie Hannan, Finbarr Dwyer. The Tempest. Na PÃÂobairÃÂ Uilleann, [2008]. Vol. 3 of the series Ace and Deuce of Piping.
References