Seán Rynne (1890-1976)

Seán Rynne, born in 1890, was a concertina player and an important figure in the musical and social life of Cahersherkin, Co. Clare. In 1916, he built the family cottage — a traditional home with flagstone floors — that would become a lively gathering place for music, dance, and community.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Seán hosted regular house dances and soirées in his home, where neighbours, family, and musicians came together to share tunes, stories, and friendship. These gatherings played a vital role in keeping traditional music alive during a time of great social change and were remembered for their warmth and energy.

One especially memorable occasion was the wedding dance of his daughter Kathleen in July 1954, when she and her husband Frederick Saunders returned from Connecticut, U.S.A., to be married and celebrate in the old family home. It was a joyful reunion of friends and relatives, typical of the hospitality and strong community spirit Seán fostered.

Seán Rynne passed away in November 1979.