Matt Cunningham (musician)
Matt Cunningham | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Genres | Irish traditional music Folk |
| Occupations | traditional musician, music teacher |
| Instruments | accordion, fiddle, tin whistle, vocals |
| Years active | 1965-present |
Matt Cunningham is a multi-instrumentalist traditional music player and music teacher from Headford, County Galway. He established the Matt Cunningham Céilí Band in 1972. He is known for his contribution to the Irish traditional music and dance landscape, especially céilí music – music for set-dancing. He has recorded over 20 albums.
Career
Matt Cunningham was born in Headford, County Galway, into a family with a strong traditional music background, including his father Joe who played tin whistle and his grandfather William J. Cunningham who played accordion.[1] He began playing music at an early age and while at secondary school, he played with the Corrib Céilí Band, the O’Neill Brothers Céilí Band and the Keane's Céilí Band. In 1965, after finishing school, he joined the Western Céilí Band and played with them for seven years.[1]
Matt formed the Matt Cunningham Band in 1972. The band members included Gay Cooley (rhythm guitar and vocals), Louis O’Rourke (bass guitar and vocal), and Seamus Sweeney (drums and vocals). The band recorded sessions for Céilí House, a traditional music programme by Radio Teilifis Eireann.[2] Their first international tour was to Boston, USA and Southport, UK, in 1986. The band have regularly toured internationally since then.
Matt began recording The Dance Music of Ireland series of albums in 1987 with Eugene Kelly. He has recorded over 20 albums in the series, with Eugene Kelly, his children Ita, Joe and Eric, and guests, in order to have the range and variety of music and tunes available for Irish dancing recorded, preserved and available to dancers, music lovers and learners of Irish traditional music.[3] He has also recorded DVDs of Irish set dancing and traditional music, including several volumes of Matt Cunningham's Irish set dancing made easy and Come to the ceili with Matt Cunningham.[4]
In 1984, Matt began teaching Irish traditional music. He teaches accordion, fiddle, tin whistle, keyboard, banjo and mandolin. As well as playing several instruments, Matt Cunningham is a singer and sings country music.[5]
In 2015, a documentary about Matt Cunningham's life, music and impact (Matt Cunningham: Rí na Seite or King of the Set) was made by Red Shoe Productions and shown on TG4, the Irish language television station.[6] Matt is chairperson of the Headford-Kilcoona branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.[7]
Personal life
Matt Cunningham is married with four children. His children also play Irish traditional music and have recorded with him. His son Eric is a composer and director of several musical shows including ‘To Dance on the Moon’ and ‘Dance of Desire’.[8] Eric Cunningham and Ita Geraghty founded the Galway Traditional Orchestra.
Publications
- Cunningham, Matt; Taylor, David T. (1999). Matt Cunningham's Dance Music of Ireland. Dublin: Dave Mallinson Publications. ISBN 9781899512454.
Discography (incomplete)
- Dance Music of Ireland Vol. 1–21
- Memories of Ireland
- Every Story Told
- The Green Hills of Erin
- The Spirit of Ireland
- Matt Cunningham - Irish Set Dancing Made Easy, Volume 3 [DVD]
- Matt Cunningham - Irish Set Dancing Made Easy, Volume 2 [DVD]
- Matt Cunningham - Irish Set Dancing Made Easy, Volume 1 [DVD]
- Matt Cunningham and Band Irish Two Hand Dancing [DVD]
- Come To The Ceili [DVD]
References
- ^ a b Garvey, Sean (2015). "King of the Ceilis. An interview with Matt Cunningham". Sets.ie. Set Dancing News. Archived from the original on 18 March 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "RTÉ recordings of Céilí House programme inserts, Matt Cunningham Céilí Band, Matt Cunningham, Margaret Flanagan". Irish Traditional Music Archive. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ Way, Paul. "Matt Cunningham Ceili Band". Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "Matt Cunningham's Irish set dancing made easy. Vol. 1". Irish Traditional Music Archive. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ McNamara, Deirdre (2015). "Matt Cunningham – king of the jigs and reels". Connacht Tribune. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ Red Shoe Productions (2019). "MATT CUNNINGHAM Rí na Seite". Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Eireann: Headford-Kilcoona Branch". Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Archived from the original on 18 March 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ Caden, Sarah (2003). "BONDINGS A living tradition dwells in the heart". Ireland: Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 18 March 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026.