Willie Clancy (1918-1973)

Johnny Doran

The travelling piper Johnny Doran can be seen on the right of this photograph.

Courtesy NPU Archive

Johnny Doran
Courtesy NPU Archive

Johnny Doran

The travelling piper Johnny Doran can be seen on the right of this photograph.

Courtesy NPU Archive

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Co. Clare has a fine musical tradition. One of the county's most famous musicians was Willie Clancy. He is especially known for his mastery of the Uilleann Pipes. He is remembered in his native county at the Willie Clancy Summer School which is held in Miltown Malbay every July.

Clancy was born on Christmas Eve 1918. Growing up his house was filled with music, singing and storytelling. Both his parents sang and played instruments. Clancy was greatly influenced by the blind piper Garrett Barry, who was from Inagh in Co. Clare. Barry was already dead by the time Clancy was born but his father passed Barry's unique style of piping down to his son. Clancy was also influence by the travelling piper Johnny Doran, who he met when he was seventeen.

By the time he was in his thirties Clancy had mastered the basic piping techniques. In 1947 he won first prize at the Oireachtas competition.

Like many people of his contemporaries, Willie Clancy was forced to emigrate to London in order to earn a living. He moved to London to work as a carpenter. He continued to play his music and made contact with other musicians who were living in London at that time.

He returned to Clare in 1957,following the death of his father. He married Doirin Healy and settled in his hometown. He became one of the main attarctions at the annual Summer music sessions which took place in Miltown Malbay. He died suddenly in 1973.

In tribute to the man and his extraordinary musical talent and annual Summer music school was set up in his hometown. The school attracts musicians from all over the world.