Séamus Begley ( ga, Séamus Ó Beaglaoich, 26 August 1949 – 9 January 2023) was an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

accordion player, and Irish traditional musician. He was regarded as one of Ireland's greatest accordion players.

Early life

Begley was born in Baile na bPoc on the

Dingle Peninsula The Dingle Peninsula ( ga, Corca Dhuibhne; anglicised as Corkaguiny, the name of the corresponding barony) is the northernmost of the major peninsulas in County Kerry. It ends beyond the town of Dingle at Dunmore Head, the westernmost point ...

. One of a family of nine, his father, Breandán Ó Beaglaoich, owned the local dance hall and was a well-known accordionist.

Career

Begley learned his music at home and began playing at the local céilí at the age of 13. He released his first album, ''An Ciarraíoch Mallaithe'', with his sister Máire in 1973. Begley and his sister paired up again on ''Planxtaí Bhaile na bPoc'' in 1989, the same year he played at the

Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury Festival (formally Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts and known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England. In addition to contempo ...

with

Steve Cooney Stephen Cooney is an Australian-Irish musician. Early life Cooney was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, where he learned to play the didgeridoo, and from the age of seventeen he played in a number of rock bands. He is of Irish ancestr ...

. He later collaborated with Cooney on the album ''Meitheal'' in 1992. Begley later partnered with the likes of Jim Murray,

Mary Black Mary Black (born 23 May 1955) is an Irish folk singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both traditional folk and modern material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland. Background Mary Black was born into a m ...

Sharon Shannon Sharon Shannon (born 8 June 1968) is an Irish musician, best known for her work with the button accordion and for her fiddle technique. She also plays the tin whistle and melodeon. Her 1991 debut album, '' Sharon Shannon,'' was the best-sel ...

and

Tim Edey Tim Edey is an English multi-instrumentalist and composer who grew up in Broadstairs, Kent and is now based in Perthshire Perthshire ( locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and regist ...

, producing further albums.

Death

Begley died on 9 January 2023, at the age of 73.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Begley, Séamus 1949 births 2023 deaths Irish accordionists Musicians from County Kerry