Willie Clancy - Minstrel From Clare

The musicians who have truly influenced Irish traditional  music have not been many. Willie Clancy (1918-1973), piper, whistle-player and singer of Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, was indisputably one of them. He belonged to a strong tradition and left one after him. Clancy was born into a musical family. His parents both sang and played concertina, and his father, who had been heavily influenced by local blind piper Garret Barry, also played the flute.

Clancy started playing the whistle at the age of five, and later took up the flute. He first saw a set of pipes in 1936 when he saw Johnny Doran playing locally. He obtained his first set of pipes two years later. His influences included Leo Rowsome, Séamus Ennis, John Potts, and Andy Conroy. Clancy won the Oireachtas competition in 1947.

01. Langstern Pony

02. The Templehouse / Over the Moor To Maggie

03. Bruachna Carraige Báine (The Brink of the White Rock)

04. Erin's Lovely Lea

05. The Killavel Fancy / The Dogs Among the Bushes

06. The Family Ointment

07. The Dear Irish Boy

08. Caoineadh an Spailpín (The Spalpeen's Lament)

09. The Pipe On the Hob

10. The Gander

11. The Flogging Reel

12. The Legacy Jig

13. The Song of the Riddles

14. Spailpín a Rúin (Spalpeen, My Love)

link to the free album

Willie Clancy - Minstrel From Clare