Irish Traditional Music Duo Win Cork Persons of the Month Award

Fiddle-player Matt Cranitch and Accordionist Jackie Daly have been jointly awarded November’s Cork Person of the Month Award in honour of their significant contribution to the Sliabh Luachra tradition of Irish music over the past several decades.

Both men are acknowledged masters of the rich musical tradition of Sliabh Luachra, a culturally unique area on the Cork/Kerry border renowned for its distinctive style of playing and special repertoire of tunes. In both their performances and in their recordings Matt and Jackie draw upon and pay tribute to the rich musical legacy of this region.

Matt is a world-renowned and award-winning fiddle-player, having won several All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil titles, the Oireachtas Crotty Cup, the M.J. Quill Irish Cultural Center Award in New York, and has been named The Fiddler of Dooney. Prolific in terms of writing, performing and composition, he is the author of The Irish Fiddle Book, first published in 1988 and now in its fourth edition, and has also contributed to a variety of other books on Irish traditional music. His discography includes albums with groups such as Na Filí, Any Old Time and Sliabh Notes, in addition to his solo album of slow airs entitled Éistigh Seal which he considers one of his proudest works.

In addition to playing music, Matt is also widely recognised for his deep knowledge of Irish traditional music. One of the leading authorities on the music of Sliabh Luachra, he received a PhD in 2006 for his study on the fiddle-playing tradition of this region and has taught a number of courses in Irish traditional music at University College Cork. He has also served as a long-time consultant for the Geantraí series on TG4, is a former adviser to the Irish Arts Council scheme for the traditional arts, and has served on the board of the Irish Traditional Music Archive.

Jackie Daly is synonymous with the button accordion in the world of Irish traditional music, having been described in The New York Times as “probably the best accordionist in Ireland”. Born in Kanturk, Co. Cork, where he grew up surrounded by the rich music tradition of Sliabh Luachra, Jackie credits Ballydesmond fiddle-player Jim O’Keeffe and Sliabh Luachra fiddle-master Pádraig O’Keeffe as two of the greatest influences on his early musical development. Despite primarily being an accordionist, Jackie has had a lifelong affinity for fiddle-music and is most well known for his highly-acclaimed albums featuring fiddle and accordion which he produced with figures such as the late Cork-based musician Séamus Creagh, Kevin Burke, Máire O’Keeffe, and, most recently, with Matt Cranitch.

Jackie has been a central figure in some of the most esteemed Irish traditional music in recent times. Attesting to his high standard of musicality and versatility, he has performed throughout the world with bands such as De Danann, Patrick Street, Buttons and Bows, Arcady, Reel Union and Kinvara. Notwithstanding his broad portfolio of work across various genres of Irish traditional music, it is the style and repertoire of the Sliabh Luachra tradition that has made the most significant impression on his accordion-playing and holds a special place in his heart, as evidenced by his performances and recordings.

A multi-award winning accordionist, Jackie has been honoured with titles including the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Award, the Kanturk Arts Festival Award, the M.J. Quill Irish Cultural Center Award in New York, and the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival Award.

Matt and Jackie can now add the title of Cork Person of the Month alongside their impressive list of accolades.

Speaking ahead of presenting Matt and Jackie with their joint Cork Persons of the Month trophies, Awards Organiser Manus O’Callaghan said: “When Matt and Jackie come together to play anything from slides and polkas to reels and airs, whether in the studio or in live performance, they display not only their immense level of musical virtuosity but also their respect, love and deep understanding of the vibrant musical tradition of Sliabh Luachra.

“Their dedication to their craft and commitment to keeping this worthy Cork tradition alive is commendable. This Cork Person of the Month Award is in recognition of their stellar service to Cork’s musical and wider cultural landscape”, he concluded.

Matt and Jackie’s names will now go forward alongside the other monthly winners for possible selection as Cork Person of the Year at the annual Gala Awards Lunch in January, 2025.