For over 60 years there is one name that has remained sacred in the collective consciousness of the Irish music fraternity; that name is Paddy Canny (RIP). A founder member of the renowned Tulla Ceili band, Canny featured on one of the first ever commercial LPs of traditional Irish music produced in the 1950s - All Ireland champions; Violin - and for those who had not before then heard the formidable playing of the shy unassuming maestro from East Clare, the album marked the emergence of a very special star. Since then the magical music of Paddy Canny has continued to be an all-important force and influence in Irish music, and although it has spanned 6 decades, it is as enchanting and delicate today as it ever was. Paddy was born in Glendree in the parish of Tulla, Co. Clare. He was the youngest of three boys born to Pat Canny from Glendree and Catherine MacNamara from Feakle. Traditional music was very much part of everyday life in the Canny household. Paddy's father, Pat, was a fine fiddler and one of Paddy's greatest sources of inspiration. It would be fair to say that the very distinct East Clare style of fiddle-playing probably originated and spread from their musical home in Glendree; Pat Canny kept a blind fiddler every winter called Paddy McNamara and McNamara gave music lessons in that house to a lot of local families. He also taught Pat himeslf, who in turn taught many children from the locality, including his own sons, Jack and Mickie, R.I.P. and Paddy. Jack played regularly in his adopted hometown of Canberra in Australia as did his brother Mickie in the parish of Quin. There is no doubt, therefore, but that Paddy Canny was steeped in music from an early age; so great was his passion, indeed, that he was often known to bring the fiddle out to the meadow and to the garden to learn tunes written especially for him by various people, including his good friend Martin Rochford. Althought this was hardly appreciated at times when pressing farmwork was in danger of being neglected, Paddy's all-consuming hunger for the music was richly rewarded as infatuated music lovers witnessed the rise of one of Ireland's most stylish, exciting fiddlers. From the early age of ten years, greatly influenced by the fiddle-playing of Martin Nugent from Feakle, Paddy's music was to be heard regularly at house dances, crossroads, weddings and céilis, and later the quiet fiddle virtuoso was to find himself giving solo appearances in such high places as Carnegie Hall in New York and more recently Parish, where he was joined by Paddy Murphy, R.I.P., and Peter O'Loughlin. It's hard to imagine how such a shy, easy-going gentleman who never pushed himself to the forefront could lend himself to live 15-minute Radió Éireann broadcasts in the 50s and several RTÉ television appearances in the 60s - not to mention solo appearances in world-famous venues and a tour of America with Dr. Bill Loughnane, R.I.P. But as one commentator reminisced, although Paddy usually 'took the quiet corner' when sitting down to play, his music would then take over, his heart and soul in every note. His engaging melodies would dance from the fiddle and bow, commanding full attention and silence from all privileged enough to find themselves in his company. Many people will remember fondly Paddy's rendition of 'Trim the Velvet' which was played for many years as the signature tune of hte popular traditiona music radio programme of the fifties, Ceolta Tíre. Without question, Paddy Canny was one of the greatest legends of our time. His music remains original and untouched by today's modern tide of change; it is soft and easy to the ear and it carries with it a wealth of true tradition; the lonesome, tasty, subtle tradition of East Clare. The Caves of Kiltanon, one of Paddy's own compositions, epitomizes the distinct and spellbinding beauty of that style and attests to the indisputable brilliance of its finest exponent. This long, long overdue solo album celebrates the unique and unmistakable style and flair of a true master and will be cherished by Irish music fans throughout the world. Paddy died on 28 July, 2008.