Catherine ‘Gam’ Butler née O’Donoghue (1918-1987)

Catherine ‘Gam’ Butler, born Catherine O’Donoghue in 1918, was a native of Shedrum, Co. Clare. She was the sister of fiddle player Michael ‘Gam’ O’Donoghue, and part of a family known for its strong ties to the local musical and farming traditions.

She married into the Butler family and became Catherine Butler, raising her family in Clare with a deep connection to community, music, and place. She was the mother of well-known accordion player Mike Butler, who has carried forward the family’s musical legacy into the present day.

Catherine passed away on 8 August 1987, at the age of 69.