Musician Biographies

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Musician Biographies

Musician Biographies

The wax cylinder recordings collected by Francis O'Neill and kept safe by Michael J. Dunn contain performances by some of the finest traditional Irish musicians in Chicago at the turn of the twentieth century. Twenty-two of the recordings also feature legendary uilleann piper Patsy Touhey.

Francis O'Neill

Francis O'Neill

Information about legendary Irish music collector Francis O'Neill.

Patrick Touhey, uilleann pipes

Patsy Touhey

Patsy Touhey is one of the most celebrated uilleann pipers of all time.

John McFadden and James Early

John McFadden

McFadden’s ability to retain tunes and improvise variations was greatly celebrated by O’Neill and his contemporaries.

Edward Cronin, fiddle

Edward Cronin

Fiddle player Edward Cronin was regarded as an important teacher of Irish music in Chicago.

John McFadden and James Early

James Early

The city’s Irish musicians eventually considered Early one of the best uilleann pipers in Chicago.

Barney Delaney, uilleann pipes

Bernard Delaney

Piper Barney Delaney eventually played on every important Chicago stage during his 25-year stay in the city

Learn more...

After learning about these fine musicians, be sure explore these other areas of the Dunn Family Collection!

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Listen to these musicians:

Chief O'Neill Cylinders

Music

Listen to audio from the Francis O'Neill Cylinders online.

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Browse the Dunn manuscripts:

Dunn manuscript collection

Manuscripts

Look through digital versions of the Dunn manuscript collection.

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