Gerry O'Connor

Gerry "Fiddle" O'Connor (born in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland) is a traditional Irish fiddle player.

His family has played fiddle for at least four generations and Gerry learned his music from his mother, Rose O'Connor, and also from hand-written manuscripts passed down through the family.

He later came under the influence of John Joe Gardiner, the great Sligo fiddle player, who lived in Dundalk for many years. Gerry's performances concentrate on long forgotten tunes from his home area in the North East of Ireland, many of which were recorded on his 2004 album, "Journeyman".

In addition to his solo performances and recordings, O'Connor is a founding member of two bands: Skylark (who have recorded four albums) and La Lúgh (whose album "Brighid's Kiss" was voted album of the year in 1996 by readers of "Irish Music Magazine").

Gerry is also an established fiddle repairer and he concentrates on this work when he is not touring. He now lectures in traditional Irish music at the Dundalk Institute of Technology and is regarded as one of the most disciplined and respected teachers within the facultyFact|date=March 2007. He has sometimes been confused with a banjo player of the same name, and hence adopted the name Gerry "Fiddle" O'Connor.

Discography:

* Gerry O'Connor & Gilles Le Bigot - In Concert, 2005
* Journeyman, 2004

With Skylark

* Skylark, 1987 (Claddagh Records)
* All of It, 1989 (Claddagh Records)
* Light and Shade, 1992 (Claddagh Records)
* Raining Bicycles, 1996 (Claddagh Records)

With Lá Lugh

* Cosa gan Bhróga", 1987 (Gael Linn)
* Lá Lugh, 1991 (Claddagh Records)
* Brighid's Kiss, 1996 (Lughnasa Music)
* Senex Puer 1998 (Sony Music Entertainment)

Other Albums

* The Celts Rise Again, 1990 (Green Linnet)
* Bringing it all back Home, 1991
* Musita 1987-94, 1995 (Ribium)

External links

* [http://www.gerryoconnor.net Gerry O'Connor official website]