Paddy Byrt (1889 – 1957)

Paddy Byrt was a founding member of the Kilfenora Céilí Band in 1909 and a central figure in the musical life of the village for many decades. A gifted and deeply knowledgeable musician, he was known not only for his playing, but for his extraordinary grasp of traditional music and lore — something he passed on generously to the next generation. Paddy played with both the brass and reed band and the céilí band on the concertina, and continued performing with Kilfenora and other local groups right up until 1957.

He was patriarch to a remarkable musical family — his sons Georgie (piano), John (fiddle), and Michael (concertina) all became accomplished musicians in their own right. John, in particular, was held in the highest regard by his peers and was often said to have known more tunes than any fiddler of his time. Paddy’s musical legacy lives on not just in the music he played, but in the family he nurtured and the tradition he helped shape in Kilfenora and beyond.