Charlie Lennon (fiddler): Difference between revisions

'''Charlie Lennon''' (July 1938 – 8 June 2024) was an Irish musician, fiddler, composer, and pianist.

Lennon was born the youngest of four children to Jim and Sally Lennon in [[Kiltyclogher]] in July 1938.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Charlie Lennon |url=https://www.allcelticmusic.com/artists/Charlie%20Lennon.html |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=www.allcelticmusic.com}}</ref> Lennon learned playing instruments including the fiddle and piano at a young age, and joined several [[Cèilidh|céilí bands]] in his teenage years. He graduated from the [[University of Liverpool]], majoring in nuclear physics.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ainsworth |first=Paul |date=9 June 2024 |title=Tributes paid to Irish trad musician and composer Charlie Lennon |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/ireland/tributes-paid-to-irish-trad-musician-and-composer-charlie-lennon-YDDMXLIWJRCZ3JGXDW44KVIHLQ/ |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=[[The Irish News]] |language=}}</ref>

Lennon's career spanned over 50 years.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=O'Rourke |first=Evelyn |author-link=Evelyn O'Rourke |date=8 June 2024 |title=Irish traditional musician Charlie Lennon dies aged 85 |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0608/1453763-charlie-lennon/ |journal=[[RTÉ]] |language=}}</ref> His compositions include ''The Twelve Pins'', ''The Smiling Bride,'' ''The Road to Cashel'', ''Lennon's No.4'' and ''The Handsome Young Maidens.''<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Charlie Lennon |url=https://www.feileoriel.com/charlie-lennon |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=Féile Oriel 2024 |language=}}</ref> His recordings include ''Lucky in Love'', ''The Emigrant Suite'', ''Flight from the Hungry Land'', ''Island Wedding,'' ''Time for a Tune'', ''Aifreann Chaomháin'' and ''Áille Na hÁille''.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Neely |first=Daniel |date=10 June 2024 |title=Charlie Lennon, trad titan, 85 |url=https://www.irishecho.com/2024/6/charlie-lennon-trad-titan-dies |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=[[The Irish Echo]] |language=}}</ref>

Lennon's book of compositions, Musical Memories, was published in 1993.<ref name=":0" /> Lennon was awarded the title [[Ollam|Ard-Ollamh]] by the [[Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann]] in 2005. He was the 2006 [[List of TG4 Composers Award recipients|TG4 Composer of the Year]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=13 December 2012 |title=IMRO Master Classes at Temple Bar Tradfest 2013 |url=https://imro.ie/industry-news/imro-master-classes-at-temple-bar-tradfest-2013/ |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=[[Irish Music Rights Organisation]] |language=}}</ref> Lennon's second book of compositions, Musical Memories Volume 2, was released in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 November 2021 |title=Ten Favourite Charlie Lennon Tunes |url=https://blog.mcneelamusic.com/top-ten-charlie-lennon-tunes/ |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=Mcneela Music |language=}}</ref>

Lennon also taught at third level at the [[University of Galway]].<ref name=":3" /> He moved to [[Spiddal]] after his retirement, where he a opened a recording studio.<ref name=":0" />

Lennon married [[Sean-nós singing|sean-nós singer]] Síle Ní Fhlaithearta in 1966, with whom he had 3 children and 8 grandchildren.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charlie Lennon |url=https://www.itma.ie/people/charlie-lennon/ |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=ITMA |language=}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Emma |date=10 June 2024 |title=President leads tributes following death of Leitrim native and Irish traditional music legend Charlie Lennon |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/galway/news/president-leads-tributes-following-death-of-leitrim-native-and-irish-traditional-music-legend-charlie-lennon/a1741636856.html |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=[[Irish Independent]] |language=}}</ref> He was [[Maurice Lennon]]'s uncle.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 March 2023 |title=Musician Mick O’Brien to be awarded highest accolade in Traditional Irish Music |url=https://www.tg4.ie/en/information/press/press-releases/2023-2/gc2023/ |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=[[TG4]] |language=}}</ref>

Lennon died at the [[University Hospital Galway]] on 8 June 2024, at the age of 85.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gleeson |first=Colin |date=9 June 2024 |title=Irish traditional musician Charlie Lennon has died aged 85 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/06/09/irish-traditional-musician-charlie-lennon-has-died-aged-85/ |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=[[The Irish Times]] |language=}}</ref>

[[Category:University of Liverpool alumni]]

[[Category:University of Galway people]]