I just heard, from two different & reliable sources, the very sad news indeed, that the legendary Donegal Fiddle player JAMES BYRNE was taken from us, suddenly, last night.
I only actually met him once myself, but I must say he came across as an honest, decent & generous man.
He will of course be sadly missed by thousands & thousands of musicians around the World, both young & old.
Here is the mighty man himself playing with Danny Meehan & Tommy Peoples:
I met him in Glencolmcille and he was a lovely man. Sitting right next to him in a couple sessions was a huge a treat. What a huge loss for the musical community. He will be missed. :(
I visited Glencolmcille a few years ago. I was supposed to catch him playing tunes on the very first night, but the bus was late and I was too tired to walk down to the pub....
Very sad to hear this.
Only heard him play once - in Camden Town with Danny Meehan and Tommy Peoples. But his music certainly made an impression on me that night.
Very sad news indeed. I last saw him in summer in Glencolmcille. I had a couple of lessons with hin a few years ago. A great musician and a very nice man.
I feel very fortunate to have met and played with him in Glencolmcille four years ago. I traveled there with two good friends of mine specifically to track him down on the advice of Jackie Small, and we were treated to two quiet lovely evenings of tunes with him during our visit.
Not only was he a brilliant fiddler, but he had us rolling all evening with his stories. He was a very sweet and gracious man. We immediately recognized the privilege of his company.
It was my extremely good fortune to be in James's company on more than a few occasions over the last quarter of a century. More often than not, he'd be playing (in his wonderful, free-flowing and inimitable style) and I'd be listening, but there were opportunities too, whether in the bars of Southwest Donegal or London, for a quiet chat about music, and general life and times.
James was an innately diffident and ever charming fellow, with absolutely no pretensions. As Steph has remarked above, he was a marvellous raconteur, but rarely played a role in any narrative, except occasionally to take the mickey out of himself in the story's telling.
Above all, he was a consummate fiddler and one who never valued himself above the tradition he was so willing to pass on to others.
The last time I met James was two or three years ago when I travelled up to his house to give him a copy of an album which, in fact, he'd no recollection of recording. This was the never released other 'Northern Fiddler' album. The one that did get issued by Topic was John Doherty's 'Bundle and Go', but another album was actually in the pipeline (and featured James, Danny O'Donnell, Simon Doherty and Con Cassidy). Said second album never saw the light of day for a variety of reasons, too complex to go into here, but I managed, with Topic's help, to get a copy from the British Library and took it to James.
Yes, confirmed from local sources. One of the most unassuming gentlemen you could meet and a true master of Irish music. Haven't played with him lately but treasure every time I have done. Funeral tomorrow 10th November at 11.00a.m. in Glencolmcille. Ni bheidh a leitheadh aris ann.
I'm so sorry to see this sad news – sorry about him, and for his family and friends. Only this August I was in Kilcar for two weeks and had the great pleasure and privilege of playing with, and listening to James and members of his family in a number of sessions – I did far more listening than playing. In the first session there was a nice welcoming touch, a gentle unassuming suggestion from James that perhaps I'd like to start off a tune or two.
He is now gone, but I'm sure his spirit and the tradition of the music will live on in his pupils and everyone who has heard him and played with him.
I loved James' playing and he was a lovely guy. I travelled from Limerick to Donegal a few years ago to interview him as part of my work on the MA course. He was an absolute pleasure to speak to and like others have said, very unassuming and quiet. From my brief time spent interviewing him, he came across as a completely genuine person who was happy to share his views and ideas with a slightly shy (and woefully lacking in knowledge on Donegal fiddling) fiddle player from the IOM. What's more, he was really interested in our music too and its similarities/differences to Irish music. A sad loss, RIP.
James' passing is such a terrible loss. He had such an individual style, such brilliant rhythm and such a great way around the tunes. I've never seen such a strong bow arm or heard such a rich fiddle tone. He was also a really genuine man, generous of spirit, with a great sense of humour and laughing eyes.
The music in Glencolmcille will never be the same without him now. The funeral yesterday was such a sad affair with some very moving tributes paid to him.
My sympathies go out to all who were close to him, particularly Connie and the children and all the great fiddlers who he passed the music onto.
There's an unfillable void in the world of traditional music now.
Really sorry to hear about Jamsie .I had some tunes with him and one of his daughters at the Cup Of Tae festival In May and i really enjoyed them
This was one of Irelands greatest gentlemen and will be missed
Michael Keown
Newcastle
Co Down
Listening to the radio this morning (2nd May 09) I was absolutely shocked to hear a trailer refer to the LATE James Byrne. I confirmed the terrible news with a google search. I am absolutely shocked and very upset; a true gentleman. I will greatly miss hearing and talking to James each summer in Glen. Ireland has lost a truly great fiddler. R.I.P.
Kieran Cummins
Rathmolyon
Co. Meath
James Byrne R. I. P.
James Byrne R. I. P.
I just heard, from two different & reliable sources, the very sad news indeed, that the legendary Donegal Fiddle player JAMES BYRNE was taken from us, suddenly, last night.
I only actually met him once myself, but I must say he came across as an honest, decent & generous man.
He will of course be sadly missed by thousands & thousands of musicians around the World, both young & old.
Here is the mighty man himself playing with Danny Meehan & Tommy Peoples:
< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGyhboYFfOE >
& here's an interview with the man himself.
< http://www.standingstones.com/jbyrne.html >
James Byrne R. I. P.
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by Ptarmigan
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
I met him in Glencolmcille and played some tunes with him one evening in a pub there. He play
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by John Culhane
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Guess I should finish this post:
He played airs and hornpipes beautifully. It was a great treat for me.
Sorry to hear this sad news.
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by John Culhane
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
I heard the news today. Absolutely stunned. He was one of a kind; musically and as a person.
R.I.P
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by martin t
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
This is very sad news.
I met him in Glencolmcille and he was a lovely man. Sitting right next to him in a couple sessions was a huge a treat. What a huge loss for the musical community. He will be missed. :(
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by DrSilverSpear
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Just for the record:
James Byrne: 'The Road to Glenlough'
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1198
'The Brass Fiddle': Traditional Fiddle Music From Donegal"
Various fiddlers ~ including James Byrne, Vincent Campbell, Con Ciassidy and Francie Byrne
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/274
The Fiddle Music of Donegal: Volume 2:
http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CG_Various_Fiddle_Donegal_1_3.html
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by Ptarmigan
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Dick, that's very sad news indeed - a terrible loss.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by On Sabbatical
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Sad news. It was just a few days ago that I posted a tune associated with him: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/9048
I visited Glencolmcille a few years ago. I was supposed to catch him playing tunes on the very first night, but the bus was late and I was too tired to walk down to the pub....
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by slainte
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Very sad to hear this.
Only heard him play once - in Camden Town with Danny Meehan and Tommy Peoples. But his music certainly made an impression on me that night.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by DaveL35
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
A very sad loss to irish music and donegal fiddling. He still had a lot of music in him, plus his lovely personality is a big loss too.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by diarmuid k
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Very sad news indeed. I last saw him in summer in Glencolmcille. I had a couple of lessons with hin a few years ago. A great musician and a very nice man.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by fiddlinsue
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
I feel very fortunate to have met and played with him in Glencolmcille four years ago. I traveled there with two good friends of mine specifically to track him down on the advice of Jackie Small, and we were treated to two quiet lovely evenings of tunes with him during our visit.
Not only was he a brilliant fiddler, but he had us rolling all evening with his stories. He was a very sweet and gracious man. We immediately recognized the privilege of his company.
RIP Jamesy!
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by _Steph_
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Can't believe hes gone - chatted with him at a session in Carrick two weekends ago. Our thoughts are with Connie and the girls.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by iwerzon
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
It was my extremely good fortune to be in James's company on more than a few occasions over the last quarter of a century. More often than not, he'd be playing (in his wonderful, free-flowing and inimitable style) and I'd be listening, but there were opportunities too, whether in the bars of Southwest Donegal or London, for a quiet chat about music, and general life and times.
James was an innately diffident and ever charming fellow, with absolutely no pretensions. As Steph has remarked above, he was a marvellous raconteur, but rarely played a role in any narrative, except occasionally to take the mickey out of himself in the story's telling.
Above all, he was a consummate fiddler and one who never valued himself above the tradition he was so willing to pass on to others.
The last time I met James was two or three years ago when I travelled up to his house to give him a copy of an album which, in fact, he'd no recollection of recording. This was the never released other 'Northern Fiddler' album. The one that did get issued by Topic was John Doherty's 'Bundle and Go', but another album was actually in the pipeline (and featured James, Danny O'Donnell, Simon Doherty and Con Cassidy). Said second album never saw the light of day for a variety of reasons, too complex to go into here, but I managed, with Topic's help, to get a copy from the British Library and took it to James.
We'll never see his like again.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by MacCruiskeen
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Really sad news.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by mutatis mutandis
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Yes, confirmed from local sources. One of the most unassuming gentlemen you could meet and a true master of Irish music. Haven't played with him lately but treasure every time I have done. Funeral tomorrow 10th November at 11.00a.m. in Glencolmcille. Ni bheidh a leitheadh aris ann.
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by awwilko
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
The Arts Council
http://www.artscouncil.ie/en/news/news.aspx?article=8c635110-efd1-4106-9cb4-c049e7dd2a69
The Newry Journal
http://www.newryjournal.co.uk/content/view/2102/
# Posted on November 10th 2008 by Ptarmigan
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
I'm so sorry to see this sad news – sorry about him, and for his family and friends. Only this August I was in Kilcar for two weeks and had the great pleasure and privilege of playing with, and listening to James and members of his family in a number of sessions – I did far more listening than playing. In the first session there was a nice welcoming touch, a gentle unassuming suggestion from James that perhaps I'd like to start off a tune or two.
He is now gone, but I'm sure his spirit and the tradition of the music will live on in his pupils and everyone who has heard him and played with him.
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
I loved James' playing and he was a lovely guy. I travelled from Limerick to Donegal a few years ago to interview him as part of my work on the MA course. He was an absolute pleasure to speak to and like others have said, very unassuming and quiet. From my brief time spent interviewing him, he came across as a completely genuine person who was happy to share his views and ideas with a slightly shy (and woefully lacking in knowledge on Donegal fiddling) fiddle player from the IOM. What's more, he was really interested in our music too and its similarities/differences to Irish music. A sad loss, RIP.
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by ManxFiddle
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
James' passing is such a terrible loss. He had such an individual style, such brilliant rhythm and such a great way around the tunes. I've never seen such a strong bow arm or heard such a rich fiddle tone. He was also a really genuine man, generous of spirit, with a great sense of humour and laughing eyes.
The music in Glencolmcille will never be the same without him now. The funeral yesterday was such a sad affair with some very moving tributes paid to him.
My sympathies go out to all who were close to him, particularly Connie and the children and all the great fiddlers who he passed the music onto.
There's an unfillable void in the world of traditional music now.
RIP James. We'll miss you terribly.
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by The Tune Composer
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Really sorry to hear about Jamsie .I had some tunes with him and one of his daughters at the Cup Of Tae festival In May and i really enjoyed them
This was one of Irelands greatest gentlemen and will be missed
Michael Keown
Newcastle
Co Down
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by sober driver
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Donegal Democrat - 13th November
"Donegal fiddle "legend" laid to rest in stormy Glencolumbkille"
http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donegalnews/Donegal-fiddle-34legend34-laid-to.4688412.jp
# Posted on November 15th 2008 by Ptarmigan
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
James Byrne:
< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mh8CdVbhsM >
# Posted on November 15th 2008 by Ptarmigan
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
a picture of of James accompanies an obituary (by Joseph Crane) in todays newspaper ' The Guardian' (www.guardian.co.uk)
# Posted on February 11th 2009 by lisaniska
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
That is a really lovely article by Joe.
# Posted on February 11th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: James Byrne R. I. P.
Listening to the radio this morning (2nd May 09) I was absolutely shocked to hear a trailer refer to the LATE James Byrne. I confirmed the terrible news with a google search. I am absolutely shocked and very upset; a true gentleman. I will greatly miss hearing and talking to James each summer in Glen. Ireland has lost a truly great fiddler. R.I.P.
Kieran Cummins
Rathmolyon
Co. Meath
# Posted on May 2nd 2009 by Kieran Cummins