Connolly, Séamus (1944-)
Dates
- Existence: 1944-
Biographical Note
Born in 1944 into a musical family in Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland, Séamus Connolly began playing the fiddle at age 12 and went on to win the Irish National Fiddle Championship ten times. As a young musician he traveled throughout Ireland, meeting and playing music with many of the legends of Irish music, and performing regularly on Irish radio and television. In 1976 he immigrated to America and settled in the Boston area. He has given performances and workshops around the world and created the Gaelic Roots Festival (1993-2003) at Boston College, where he was appointed Sullivan Family Artist-in-Residence in 2004. His awards have included a 2013 Ellis Island Medal of Honor; a 2013 National Heritage Fellowship; the 2020 TG4 Gradam Ceoil Lifetime Achievement Award; and a 2024 Comhaltas Elders of Fiddling Award.
Social Networks and Archival Context (SNAC) Identifier
Found in 33 Collections and/or Records:
Afternoon and Evening Masters Concerts, 1993 October 10
The last two of the five recordings (148089-0003 and 148089-0004) each contain some content from October 8th events. It appears that the original October 8 recordings were mostly recorded over during the October 10th Masters Concerts. The last five minutes of 148089-0003 is the October 8th New England Contra Dancing event, and 148089-0004 contains more New England Contra Dancing followed by Cape Breton Set Dancing (see "Irish Sets and Ceili Dancing" for the continuation of this event).
Afternoon Masters Concert, 1995 October 1
Includes two independent audio recordings.
Boston College Celtic Harp Festival records
Collection of audio recordings of the 1992 Boston College Celtic Harp Festival, co-sponsored by the Boston College Music Department and Irish Studies Program. Recordings consist of a keynote lecture, panel discussion, and concert performances. Also included is Derek Bell's original manuscript and annotated sheet music for an Irish harp suite performed at the festival, as well as promotional ephemera.
Collection is open for research. The audio cassettes are not available for playback due to format impermanence and have not been reformatted. Please let Burns Library Public Services know of your specific interest; if possible, reformatting will be scheduled.
Boston College Gaelic Roots Festival records
Boston College Gaelic Roots Music, Song, Dance, Workshop, and Lecture Series recordings
Recordings of events organized by the Gaelic Roots Music, Song, Dance, Workshop, and Lecture Series at Boston College, founded in 2003 by Séamus Connolly. The Series brings together accomplished performers and experts in Irish, Scottish, American, and related folk music traditions to share their experience, knowledge, and talent with the Boston College community and beyond.
Collection is open for research.
Recordings have been digitally copied; all original media was retained, but may not be played due to format. Use copies can only be accessed in the Burns Library Reading Room.
Céilí Dance, 2001 June 19
Céilí House, 1999 June 25
Music by the Gaelic Roots Ceili Band, including Kieran Hanrahan, Séamus Connolly, Brian Conway, Helen Kisiel, Catherine McEvoy, Jimmy Noonan, Laurel Martin, Brendan McGlinchey, and Beth Sweeney. The first hour of the céilí was recorded live for Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ).
Céilí Mor, 2000 June 23
Concert, 1990 March 25
Performances by invited fiddle players Kevin Burke, Liz Carroll, Seamus Connolly, Brian Conway, Johnny Cronin, Paddy Cronin, Tony De Marco, Martin Hayes, Eileen Ivers, James Kelly, Andy McGann, Johnny McGreevy, Brendan Mulvihill, Paddy Reynolds, Dale Russ, Martin Wynne, with Mel Mercier on bodhran and bones. Held in Boston College's Gasson Hall.
These recordings have been digitally copied; all original media were retained, but may not be played due to format. Digital use copies can only be accessed in the Burns Library Reading Room.
Séamus Connolly papers
This collection documents the musical activities and career of Irish traditional fiddle player Séamus Connolly. The collection includes field recordings, correspondence, press clippings, publications, photographs, awards, and artifacts. It also includes research notes and materials collected by Connolly on Irish traditional music.
Collection is open for research. Digitized versions of original recordings are available for Burns Library Reading Room use. Some audio and video items may not be immediately available due to formatting issues.
Farewell Concert, 2000 June 24
Includes two independent audio recordings plus the first half of the concert recorded a third time. Video recordings from two cameras in different locations (A and B).
Farewell Concert, 2001 June 23
Includes video recordings from two cameras in different locations (A and B). Each video recording has some flaws.
The audio recordings on DTRS cannot be reformatted by Burns Library at this time and are not available for playback due to format impermanence. All audio and video recordings on DAT and mini-DV have been digitally copied and are accessible.
Gaelic Roots Concert, 2000 June 22
Includes two independent audio recordings and video recordings from two cameras in different locations (A and B).
The audio recordings on DTRS cannot be reformatted by Burns Library at this time and are not available for playback due to format impermanence. All audio and video recordings on DAT and VHS have been digitally copied and are accessible.
Gaelic Roots Weekend, video recording by Tommy Joyce, 1993 October 8-10
Excerpts from: Friday Paddy Keenan concert; Seisiun Mor; Saturday Step Dancing Demonstration; Saturday Concert; Sean Potts whistle workshop; Sunday family musicians concert; and Sunday Afternoon Masters Concert.
Hall of Fame induction ceremony, video recording, 2002
Inductees: Michael Danfort, John Droney, Bill Black, Seamus Connolly, Fergus Keane, the Reynolds family (Larry, Larry Jr., Sean, Mike, Paddy), Joe Burke
Performances by: Kimberley Stevens, Allison Reilly, Edward Burke, Fergus Keane, Jimmy Hogan, Tara Lynch, Bill Black, the Reynolds family (Larry, Larry Jr., Sean, Mike, Paddy)
Speakers: Ted McGraw, Patrick Danfort, Frank Kennedy, Larry Reynolds
These recordings have been digitally copied; all original media were retained, but may not be played due to format. Digital use copies, identified by digital content number, can be accessed in the Burns Library Reading Room.
Interview with Joe Derrane, Burns Library, 2001 June 21
Interview with Peadar O'Loughlin and Jimmy Hogan, Burns Library, 2001 June 21
Irish and Scottish Step Dance Exhibition, 2002 June 21
Irish and Scottish Step Dance Exhibition (and the Gaelic Roots Dancers), 2001 June 22
Irish, Cape Breton and Scottish Step Dance Exhibition, 2002 June 18
Lecture by Earle Hitchner: "Meet the Critic"; Fiddle and Dance Styles: From Scotland and Ireland to Cape Breton and America, Moderated by Mick Moloney; and Boston Harbor Boat Cruise, 2002 June 19
Includes video recordings from two cameras in different locations (A and B). The boat cruise was only recorded on video.
Masters Concert, 2002 June 20
Performers identified on the original media label who are not in the program include Randal Bays, Dana Lyn, Martin Mulhaire, Carmel O'Dea, and John Whelan. Includes video recordings from two cameras in different locations (A and B).
The audio recordings on DTRS cannot be reformatted by Burns Library at this time and are not available for playback due to format impermanence. All audio and video recordings on DAT and mini-DV have been digitally copied and are accessible.
Masters Concert, 2003 June 19
Includes two independent audio recordings and video recordings from two cameras in different locations (A and B).
The audio recordings on DTRS cannot be reformatted by Burns Library at this time and are not available for playback due to format impermanence. All audio and video recordings on DAT and mini-DV have been digitally copied and are accessible.
Michael Tubridy interviewed by Earle Hitchner, 2003 June 20
Monday Cuirmeacha Ceoil (Mini-Concert) and Gaelic Roots Ceili Dance and Step About, 2002 June 17
Includes video recordings from two cameras in different locations (A and B). Only the camera B recording includes the Gaelic Roots Ceili Dance and Step About.