Martin Reidy of Tullaghaboy, 1901-1985, The Long Song Singer

Martin Reidy lived alone on a farm in Tullaghaboy, Connolly, County Clare. Martin specialised in long songs mostly learned from songbooks to which he added his own airs. When visited by Jim Carroll and Pat Mackenzie in the 1970s and 80s he loved to sing for them and would talk about singing and old customs. Martin was a regular visitor and performer at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay. A selection of Martin’s songs and recordings of him talking to Jim and Pat can be heard here as part of Singers and Songs of County Clare. An article by song collector Tom Munnelly captures the personality of the man and documents a number of his songs. Photo above courtesy Pat Mackenzie.