Paddy Ryan

With a long and distinguished lifetime dedicated to traditional Irish music, there is not a fiddle musician alive today who does not know Paddy Ryan or about Paddy Ryan. As a teacher, practicing musician, and master of his craft, Paddy became a stalwart in the trad music scene whilst he lived and worked in Birmingham. On his return to his native Roscommon, he became very much involved in the local music scene and also became a very key individual within Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Eireann head office in Monkstown, Co Dublin.

An eminent  fiddle player in the Connaught style. Paddy has accrued a vast and detailed repertoire of tunes…. identifying their names (if had been lost) and their history for the benefit of generations to follow.

For many years Paddy had been the National Music Officer with CCE. He was founder and development officer for the Adjudicators course which lay solid foundations and guidelines for up and coming adjudicators which he instituted in the early 1980s. As a result of his endeavours, the universal adjudicating system within CCE is of the highest possible standard. It serves to ever elevate the level of professionalism and proficiency on an international level for traditional Irish music in the competition setting.

Paddy’s long-standing commitment as an assessor with the TTCT teaching course has been invaluable. Paddy has also been central to the SCT Examiner Course for CCE Grand Examination System. Even now, in his “twilight” years, Paddy still travels to Shannonside Radio in Longford for his weekly “Coppers and Brass” radio show.

To say that Paddy Ryan is a legend is on the button! Comhgairdeas a Phadraig. You are the Elder of Connaught Fiddling.