User:Mickey Finn fiddler

Mickey Finn was a Traditional Irish Fiddler based in Galway city in the 70's and 80's.

Born in Callan in County Kilkenny on 31st December 1951, Mickey started learning the fiddle in the early sixties. When his family moved to Ballinrobe in Co. Mayo in 1963, Mickey was taken under the wing of Brother Forrestal, who trained Mickey in the style of Michael Coleman, the legendary Sligo fiddler.

When Mickey arrived in Galway in 1970, he immediatly joined in the traditional sessions taking place in the city, notably in the Celler Bar, and rapidly became popular for his unique style - a kind of rock/trad/jazz fusion - never playing a traditional tune exactly the same way! Although this may not have gone down well with the purists, the sessions were memorable.

Mickey came from a musical family, his parents Bill and Jackie were accomplished piano players and Bill was a prolific composer of tunes. One of Bill's tunes was re-arranged by Mickey into an air, which was later called "Mickey Finn's Air", recorded by tin whistler Seán Ryan on his CD "Minstrel's Fancy" and by Alec Finn on his CD "Blue Shamrock". Mickey is survived by his wife Lena Ullman (plays 5 string banjo with the band Moonshine), his daughter Sadie, his two brothers - Billy (flute, whistles, pipes) and Johnny (Guitar, Singer/Songwriter) and three sisters - Elizabeth (singer), Mary (singer) and Jackie (piano, singer).

In the early 70's, Mickey joined forces with Singer/Guitarist Terry Smith and formed the group Dicklerfitz. The group was also joined by flute player Mick Treacy, and later, by multi-instrumentallist Alec Finn (no relation). Young fiddler Frankie Gavin took part in those sessions, which included other players like Gerry Carthy, Pete Galligan, Charlie Harris, Johnny (Ringo) McDonagh, Sean Tyrrell, Jerry Mulvihill and Singers Dolores Keane, Mary Coughlan, Mary Staunton and many others. It was from sessions like these that the group De Dannan was born.

Mickey appeared in the TV film "Pair of Shoes" (Par O Sgidiau) a SC4 Welsh film (1986) - starring Neil Tobín, James Bartley and David Kelly.He also appeared in the Bob Quinn film "Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoire" (1975)

In 1976 Dicklerfitz supported Planxty in Galway.

Mickey died at the young age of 35 on 15th April 1987.