Proinsias Ó Maonaigh
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| Proinsias Ó Maonaigh | |
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 Proinsias Ó Maonaigh is also known as Francie Mooney
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Proinsias Ó Maonaigh |
| Born | 1922, Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Died | 28th March 2006 Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Ireland |
| Genre(s) | Irish Traditional |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
Proinsias Ó Maonaigh or Francie Mooney (1922-March 28, 2006) was a fiddler from Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Ireland. He is world-famous for his distinguished fiddle playing and his unique and vast contribution to Irish music and culture.
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[edit] Early life
Born in Gweedore in 1922 as the youngest of eight children, he was a son of famous musician from the area Róise Mhór who would have played with an Píobaire Mór Tarlach Mac Suibhne. It was an Irish speaking household, as is the whole of Gweedore, and traditional music was nurtured within the home and they were taught many Irish songs.
[edit] Career
He taught at Luinneach primary school in Gweedore from 1967 until his retirement in 1996. He also taught many locals how to play the fiddle right up to the age of 82.
He married a Gweedore woman, Kitty Ní Ghallchóir, and they have three children: Gearóid, Mairéad and Áine (or Anna).
Francie was also a keen Gaelic footballer and contributed greatly to the local and county GAA.
Proinsías was loyal and dedicated to everything Irish and Gaelic, and tried to nurture Irish music and the Irish language in young people motivating them to have love for their own culture and traditions.
He is world-renowned for his unique skills at song and tune-writing, and he is credited for such works as "Francie Mooney's German", "Francie Mooney's Mazourka" and "Francie Mooney's Highland".
His most famous song was a heart-warming song he wrote about his hometown Gweedore, called "Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair". It is used as an anthem by local people especially, but it has captured the hearts of many outsiders also. It has been performed by singers such as Altan, Paul Brady, Brian Kennedy and Clannad.
He also wrote pantomimes for the local theater, and translated many songs that we know in English into the Irish language. He was a man of many talents, and much loved by the whole community.
In 2003 he was honoured by the Oireachtas when he was the president of the Letterkenny event.
Proinsías Ó Maonaigh died on the 28th of March 2006,[1] after suffering a brief illness. His funeral was one of the biggest ever seen in County Donegal, and acts such as Skara Brae, Altan, Paul Brady and Clannad paid tribute to him at the requiem mass in Gweedore.
On November 22, 2007, a concert honoring Proinsias was held at the opening of the new theatre in Dunlewey. The tribute was conducted entirely in Irish, and included both instrumentals and songs he had composed or translated, plus some of his own favorites. There were several instrumental sets, a comic performance, and some dancing. The chorus consisted of over 20 members (many of them family) and almost a dozen musicians.
[edit] His legacy
He has left a huge legacy behind him, he is partly responsible for the success of local stars such as Enya, Clannad and Skara Brae.
But it is his family that has made the biggest mark on the traditional music scene in the world beyond Gweedore. His daughter Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is the lead and founding member of internationally recognised group Altan. His son Gearóid is also well known locally for his musical talents, as well as his love of Irish traditional music. Gearóid and other family members, such as Ann Mooney, are also heavily involved in organizing musical events locally such as the world-famous Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy. Francie's grandson Ciarán Ó Maonaigh is the recipient of the 2003 TG4 Musician Of The Year Award.[2]
