Pádraig O’Keeffe

Pádraig O’Keeffe (Irish: Pádraig Ó Caoimh) (1887 – 1963) was born and lived in Glountane Cross near Castleisland, Kerry. He is regarded by many as the towering figure of Sliabh Luachra music, as he was one of the only area musicians of his generation to have been recorded, and throughout his life as a travelling music teacher had countless pupils, many of whom became renowned in their own right. He therefore defines the Sliabh Luachra style to a large degree. Peter Browne has written an extensive biography of O’Keeffe which you can read here.

Pádraig in good company with Denis Murphy and Willy Clancy

An example of Pádraig’s unique musical notation

The commemorative plaque at Glountane Cross

O’Keeffe monument in Castleisland

Fifth from the left, back row St. Joseph’s School Feis 1945

Recently unearthed photo from 1957 at Lyon’s Bar

Recently unearthed photo from 1957 at Lyon’s Bar

O’Keeffe household 1901 census

Padraig’s house today at Glountane Cross

Plaque below Padraig’s bust in Scartaglin

Funeral card

Learned from: Cal O’Callaghan, Margaret (Callaghan) O’Keeffe, William Fitzgerald, Corney Drew

Taught: Denis Murphy, Julia (Murphy) Clifford, Bridgie (Murphy) Kelliher, Johnny O’Leary, Jack “The Lighthouse” O’Connell, John Clifford, Mick Buckley, Paddy Cronin, Johnny Cronin, Jerry McCarthy, Andrew “Sonny” Riordan, Mike Duggan, Paddy Jones, Jim O’Keeffe, Terence “Cuz” Teahan, John Spillane, Annie Twiss, Maida Sugrue, Brian O’Connor, Pats Connell, Dan O’Connor, Sean B. O’Leary, John Collins, Willy O’Connell

Recordings:

More resources:

Hear snippets of field recordings of Pádraig

A collection of his manuscripts