John Tom McMahon (1868-1940)

John Tom McMahon was born in 1868 and lived in Kylemore, near Kilfenora in Co. Clare. He was a fiddle player and the founding figure of a family that would go on to become one of the most musically significant in the region.

To distinguish among the many McMahon families in the area, nicknames were commonly used. His family became known as the ‘John Toms’, a name that was later carried by his sons and grandchildren, including the ‘Jacko’ McMahons.

John Tom was the father of four children who all became traditional musicians:

• Mary ‘John Tom’ McMahon (later Tierney) – concertina
• Joe ‘John Tom’ McMahon – concertina
• Jacko ‘John Tom’ McMahon – concertina, flute, whistle
• Annie ‘John Tom’ McMahon – fiddle

He was also the grandfather of the next generation of musicians, Noreen Hehir ‘Jacko’ McMahon, Mary McDermot ‘Jacko’ McMahon, Paddy ‘Jacko’ McMahon, Pauline Morgan ‘Jacko’ McMahon, who continued the family’s musical tradition into the present day and down through the generation after that again which include Nuala Hehir and Áine McDermot

John Tom McMahon passed away on 14 February 1940.