Andy Mc Gann: (1928
2004)

       Andy McGann was a renowned Irish fiddle player and a celebrated exponent of unique Sligo-style of traditional Irish fiddling. He was born in New York to Irish parents from County Sligo, his mother from Keash and his father from Ballymoat. Initially the family lived in West Harlem before moving, during his childhood, to the Bronx.

He began playing fiddle around the age of seven, receiving lessons from the highly respected NYC music teacher Catherine Brennan Grant, which lasted almost to his teenage years. Soon Andy joined the orchestra of Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx playing violin and learning how to read and write music (a rare skill for traditional musicians at the time), all of which helped to further develop his technique, style and confidence.  At this point he received some informal instruction and lots of encouragement from County Sligo fiddle great, Michael Coleman, who was a friend of the family. Although quite young, McGann found a place among the elite of New York's Sligo-style fiddle players, including Michael Coleman, Paddy Killoran, Martin Wynne, Louis Quinn and James ‘Lad’ O'Beirne.

          In the 1950’s, the now well-known McGann formed a partnership with Longford-born fiddler Paddy Reynolds. With Reynolds and others, McGann played with The New York Céilí Band, an all-star group that travelled to Ireland in 1960 to compete at the All-Ireland fleadh cheoil in Boyle, County Roscommon.

        Andy McGann's first studio recording did not happen until 1965. The much sought after album ‘A Tribute to Michael Coleman’ with Galway button accordionist, Joe Burke and piano accompanist, Felix Dolan, on the Shaskeen Label. The recording not only established Mc Gann as a master of the Sligo style of fiddle playing but helped in the world-wide revival and appreciation of the legacy and unique style of the famous Killavil fiddle player, Michael Coleman. It would be about ten years before he would record his next Album as keeping a home and raising a young family, playing at weddings and dances and teaching music, all alongside holding down a full time job in bookkeeping & accountancy, made for a pretty full life.

       In 1976 Andy went back into the studio coinciding with the launch of Shanachie Records, along with Longford born fiddle player Paddy Reynolds and accompanied by guitarist Paul Brady and the album “Andy Mc Gann and Paddy Reynolds” was released.tured person – a man of few words, who was more comfortable talking music, or perhaps the odd funny story. When he played, his personality came to the fore, as his fiddle playing was like nothing or nobody else on the planet. He instilled a unique rhythm, had a masterful bow technique, and used vibrato seamlessly through the tune. I had the honour of playing alongside him many times in the great ‘Lilly’s’ Sessions in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, alongside Cork balladeer, Donie Carroll and others. We played a few more times at different sessions in Manhattan also, and always gracious, always the perfect gentleman, a true traditional Irish musical treasure, that was Andy Mc Gann.

                         Andy Mc Gann with Gus Murray on the box and Cork Balladeer Donie Carroll at Lilly's in Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, around 1993

        Andy passed away in July of 2004, 21 years ago this week, after losing his battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Patricia, their three sons and their daughter, and many grandchildren. Many musicians, commentators, journalists, politicians and dignitaries have described his talent, but in my humble opinion, Earl Hitchner gave the perfect synopsis of his status, ‘Andy Mc Gann was one of the greatest fiddlers in the History of Irish Traditional Music’.