Austin Tierney (1888-1936)

Austin Tierney was a gifted fiddle player from Lickeen, just outside Kilfenora, Co. Clare. Born in 1896, he was one of the central figures in the early decades of the Kilfenora Céilí Band, helping to lay the foundation for what would become one of Ireland’s most celebrated traditional music groups.

By the 1910s, Austin was already active in local music, and is listed as one of the original players in early Kilfenora lineups alongside Michael Slattery, Jamesie Tierney, John Joe Lynch, and Jim Mulqueeney (all fiddle), with Bridget McGrath and Paddy Byrt on concertina, John Mulqueeney and Anthony Neylon on flute, and Molly Conole on piano.

During the 1920s, Austin remained at the heart of a core group that included Jim Mulqueeney (fiddle), Jim McCormack (flute), John Joe Lynch (fiddle and drums), and Brigid McGrath (concertina). They were regularly joined by other musicians such as Tom Ward, Lil McCormack, Paddy “Pepper” Linnane, and Paddy and Nora “Marshall” McMahon, among others.

According to Garry Shannon, Austin Tierney also contributed to music in the schools, touring with concertina player Tom Barry to perform for pupils — a testament to his role not just as a performer, but as a cultural figure in the wider community.

A well-known reel, simply called “Austin Tierney’s”, continues to be played all over the world today. It’s a favourite among traditional musicians, though many—like myself—never knew the man behind the tune. Only later did I realise that he was a neighbour of my own family from Lickeen, making the music feel all the more personal and meaningful.

Austin’s life was sadly short — he passed away in 1936 in Ballytarsna,