Patrick Kelly (fiddler)

For other people named Patrick Kelly, see Patrick Kelly (disambiguation).

Patrick Kelly (1905–1976) was an Irish fiddle-player and teacher.

Patrick Kelly
Born	1905
Origin	Cree, County Clare, Ireland
Died	1976
Genres	Traditional Irish
Instrument	fiddle

Kelly was born in Cree, County Clare, and learned to play when he was young. His youth were the heyday of the American Wakes and the house dances. His style was influenced by the Kerry fiddler George Whelan (also the mentor of his father) and Danny Mescal. Both acted as his teachers and mentors.^[1][2]

Style

Patrick Kelly specialized in music set in 12/8 pieces. While teaching in Cree and surroundings, he also passed on the Foxhunters Reel.^[3]

Characteristic of Kelly was the tuning of his fiddle in GDGD,^[4] so he could use droning and double stopping.^[5]

Personal

Patrick Kelly was the only child of Tim Kelly and Maria Killeen (1863–1951).^[6]

Around 1930, Kelly married Margaret "Dilly" Golden from Cree. They had seven children.^[7]

Discography

• Ceol an Clair, Vol. I (CCÉ CL 17) - along with Junior Crehan, Bobby Casey, Joe Ryan, and John Kelly which was recorded by Seamus Mac Mathuna.
• Pat Kelly (Custy Music) - recorded in the 1960s and restored by his son.^[8]

Further reading

• Aeroplanes out of Scrapheaps: Patrick Kelly from Cree Thesis by Brendan Taaffe as part of the Master of Arts in Traditional Music Performance, Irish World Music Centre, University of Limerick, 2005