Paul Phillips (bodhran)

Paul Phillips 1959-2007

Paul Phillips died suddenly on 16th September 2007. He had been playing music in the company of friends and was returning home when he had a heart attack.

Paul was one of Ireland’s most popular and respected bodhrán players and teachers, immersed in the drum as an art form and in particular in the development and promotion of the style of play known as top-end.

Paul shared stages at various times with Mary Bergin Lunasa. Michael McGoldrick, Sean Ryan, Gerry O’Connor, Steve Cooney, Seamus Tansey and more; He was a regular member of Darragh Folk and Reely Jiggin. Paul taught and toured widely across Europe, the US and even as far afield as Timbuktu in the Sahara in 2006 - bringing the drum to ever-wider audiences. Paul was an experienced teacher and Comhaltas adjudicator and taught at many of the main summer schools in Ireland.

Paul’s style and teaching.

Paul was a proponent of the top-end style of bodhran playing and recognised in his field as an innovator. As a teacher he had a focus on the young players and along with others such as Junior Davey and JohnJoe Kelly is credited with having been responsible for a new breed of contemporary bodhran playing and bodhran player.

Paul's Bodhran Championships.

* Ulster bodhrán Champion 1996 to 2003
* All Ireland bodhrán champion, 2003/04
* World bodhrán champion, 2005/06
* Comhaltas bodhrán and drumming adjudicator