3. Michael Gorman & Margaret Barry, Chicago 1962
Michael Gorman was born in Blackhill Farm in the western district of Cadder, Glasgow on April 11th, 1895. Following the death of his mother some ten years later, his family moved back to Co. Sligo where the young Michael took music lessons on the fiddle from Jamesie Gannon. He moved to London in the 1930s where he met his musical and life partner Margaret Barry in the 1950s. Margaret was born in Co. Cork on January 1st, 1917, and was a self-taught singer and musician on banjo and fiddle. Her grandfather, Robert Thompson was an uilleann piper who was a source of tunes for the music collector Francis O’Neill in Chicago.
In 1962, Margaret and Michael travelled to Chicago and stayed a few days in the home of their friend Kevin Henry. During that time, Kevin took Margaret to meet with Selena O’Neill as Margaret was keen to get any insight into the relationship between her grandfather and Francis O’Neill and they also spent an evening of music at the home of Jimmy & Eleanor Neary. During that evening, Jimmy asked Michael if he could record a few tunes, as he was a great admirer of his playing, and I was very grateful to receive a copy of that recording from Kevin. I have shared this music with Reg Hall and Lamond Gillespie and they both agree Michael Gorman was playing at his best that evening.
Thanks to Peter Maguire of Boston for the photo below of Michael and Margaret at the Newport Folk Festival, Rhode Island in 1965 with (l to r): Unknown, A L Lloyd, Annie Walters & Arthur Nicolle.
In 1962, Margaret and Michael travelled to Chicago and stayed a few days in the home of their friend Kevin Henry. During that time, Kevin took Margaret to meet with Selena O’Neill as Margaret was keen to get any insight into the relationship between her grandfather and Francis O’Neill and they also spent an evening of music at the home of Jimmy & Eleanor Neary. During that evening, Jimmy asked Michael if he could record a few tunes, as he was a great admirer of his playing, and I was very grateful to receive a copy of that recording from Kevin. I have shared this music with Reg Hall and Lamond Gillespie and they both agree Michael Gorman was playing at his best that evening.
Thanks to Peter Maguire of Boston for the photo below of Michael and Margaret at the Newport Folk Festival, Rhode Island in 1965 with (l to r): Unknown, A L Lloyd, Annie Walters & Arthur Nicolle.
Michael Gorman & Margaret Barry, Newport Folk Festival, Rhode Island 1965