My musical journey began in my early teens. I was a pretty average student in school, but I was fortunate to have incredibly supportive parents who encouraged my love for music. They helped me immensely by providing instruments and arranging lessons.
My first music teacher was Rob Thornburgh, originally from Minnesota, USA. He moved to Swinford in the early eighties with his wife, Marrion, who was from the area. Interestingly, my first instrument was the guitar, but group lessons proved challenging for me. Many of the other kids thrived in a classroom environment, while I found it harder to keep up.
It wasn’t until I was introduced to traditional music that I truly found my passion. The sound of the banjo captivated me, and one-on-one lessons made all the difference.
They helped me learn tunes more effectively and sharpened my performance skills, especially for competitions.
Traditional music also gave me a wonderful sense of community
I played locally with families like the Murphys from Toomore, the Noones from Killasser, and the Horkans from Swinford.
These connections were invaluable and remain some of my fondest memories.
Around the same time, my brother Eoin was making strides on the guitar.
Watching him play was a turning point for me—the “aha” moment when everything clicked.Soon after, I began taking guitar lessons alongside my banjo lessons.
There was something magical about the guitar.
It offered a way to express myself that felt unique and deeply personal, unlike anything I had experienced before.