Paddy Moloney

Paddy Moloney has been the leader of the popular Irish band The Chieftains since 1963. He has always had a love of traditional music, which he received from his parents who had a strong music tradition from their native County Laois. His grandfather was a flute player and his uncle belonged to the Ballyfin Pipe Band. His first instrument was a plastic tin whistle and by the age of eight, he was learning to play the uilleann pipes from the great pipe master, Leo Rowsome. After he left school, he took a job with Baxendales, a large building firm, where he worked in accounting. Before The Chieftains came into existence, Paddy played in several groups and worked to develop his own unique sound. He often played with other musicians in duets and trios. Some of the musicians he played with included Seán Potts, Michael Tubridy, Martin Fay. Paddy met Seán Ó Ríada in the late 1950s when he played with several people, who later went on to Ceoltóirí Cualann in various clubs before joining the Ría