Liam O'Connor is a multi-instrumentalist musician, once referred to as "the Jimi Hendrix of the accordion".[1]
Liam O'Connor | |
|---|---|
| Born | Newmarket, Ireland |
| Genres | Irish traditional music |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Accordion |
Early life
editLiam O'Connor was born in Newmarket, County Cork, Ireland, to a musical family. At the age of 10 he joined his family's band, The O'Connor Family. The band was composed of O'Connor, his three brothers and his three sisters. They travelled the country playing with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. He now lives in Killarney, County Kerry.
Music career
editO'Connor signed a contract with MCA Universal Music in 1993 and released his debut album The Awakening with vocalist Lisa Aherne. The album was nominated for an IRMA award and caught the attention of Michael Flatley and Lord of the Dance. O'Connor toured with Lord of the Dance for two and a half years.[2]
He is the only Irish musician to be asked to perform at the Ryder Cup twice and performed at the All-Ireland Football and Hurling Finals in Ireland's National Stadium Croke Pairc seven times.[3]
In 2006 O'Connor recorded the official anthem for the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) "Morning Dew"[4] with GAA broadcasting legend Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh and topped the Irish charts for six weeks.
O'Connor was listed in the Guinness Book of Records in 2008 as having the fastest fingers in the world on the cccordion.[5] He has appeared on numerous television programs including Gay Byrnes The Late Late Show, Kenny Live, RTÉ's Live at 3, Open House, Michael Aspels This Is Your Life, Seoige and O'Shea, Vodafone Allstars, Michael Flatley's tribute on The Late Late Show, Christie Hennessy's TV documentary, RTÉ News,[6] Pat Kenny's Late Late Show,[7] and Ryan Tubridy's Late Late Show.
In 2010 O'Connor released the album Tico Mystico, produced by John Themis.[8][9]
O'Connor frequently performs at the Killarney Avenue Hotel from May to October in Killarney as the Liam O'Connor Show.[10]
O'Connor also frequently collaborates with local secondary school St. Brendan's College, Killarney.[11][12]
Personal life
editO'Connor has 3 children.[13]
Discography
edit| Album | Performers | Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Awakening | Liam O'Connor and Lisa Aherne | 1996 |
| Live at City West Hotel | Liam O'Connor and Lisa Aherne | 2001 |
| Reel Spirit | Liam O'Connor and Lisa Aherne | 2003 |
| The Morning Dew | Liam O'Connor | 2006 |
| Tico Mystico | Liam O'Connor | 2010 |
| Live at Ronnie Scott's | Liam O'Connor | 2013 |
Credits
edit| Album | Performers | Role | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lord of the Dance | Original Cast | Accordion | 1997 |
| Feet of Flames | Lord of the Dance Cast | Accordion | 1999 |
| The Two of Us | Christie Hennessy | Accordion | 2008 |
| The Day of My Return | Mike Denver | Accordion | 2009 |
Recognition
edit| Award | Date |
|---|---|
| 1st Ambassador of Killarney, Ireland | 2010 |
| IRMA Nomination | 1996 |
| Beamish & Crawford Award | |
| Guinness World Record- Fastest Fingers | 2008 |
References
edit- ^ RTE Radio 1 Bio Archived 2 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lord of the Dance Cast
- ^ O’Connor Performs at Football and Hurling Finals
- ^ GAA Anthem
- ^ Guinness Book of Records
- ^ RTE Appearance
- ^ Late Late Show Appearance
- ^ Advertiser, Killarney. "Boy George and Moya Brennan join forces with Liam O'Connor | Killarney Advertiser". www,killarneyadvertiser.ie. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Star-studded cast on Liam O'Connor CD". independent. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ The Liam O’Connor Show
- ^ "Liam and St Brendan's back for seventh year". independent. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ O'Mahony, John (27 April 2018). "Christy and Liam rock the Sem chapel". KillarneyToday.com. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "Still humming the same tune". independent. Retrieved 16 April 2021.