Co Clare has lost one its finest musicians, an excellent photographer and an absolute gentleman all in one swoop following the death of Martin Connolly.
Martin died peacefully on Friday at University Hospital Galway after a hard-fought two year battle with illness.
Born in Killaloe to the famed Connolly musical family, music was a major part of everyday life for Martin. Both of his parents were musicians, his father Mick played flute and step-danced in the old traditional style while his mother Lena played piano and accordion.
His brothers also maintained this tradition with Michael playing the piano and also serving as the choirmaster and organist at St Flannan’s Church in Killaloe, he sadly died less than three weeks ago. Seamus played the fiddle and has been honoured with multiple accolades including National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2013 which is the highest honour the US government can grant to a traditional artist, he also taught at Boston College for over a quarter century where he founded the Gaelic Roots Summer School and Festival on campus, he won the All-Ireland fiddle championship ten times, a feat unequaled by any other musician. Their eldest sibling Marie though not a musician savoured their talents and was one of their biggest supporters.
Music sessions were commonplace in the Connolly house with the likes of Joe Burke, Paddy O’Brien and the Lennons, Charlie and Ben among the regular visitors.
Though the youngest of the Connolly clan, Martin was held in the highest of regard for his talents as a musician, an accordion maker and an accordion teacher. He won All-Ireland titles at all levels and was viewed as one of the top accordion players in the country.
He travelled all over the world performing and teaching music. In 1995 he had the honour of representing Ireland at the Carrefour Mondial de L’Accordéon, World Accordion Festival in Quebec, Canada and shared the stage with names like Valentino Lorenzetti from Italy, Tony Russo from Switzerland, Francois Heim from France and Stephane Landray from Quebec, Canada.
Two recordings of his music have been released, ‘The Fort of Kincora’ was issued as an LP and was re-launched on CD at the 2014 Fleadh Nua, ‘Back to Brooklin’ was released in 1999 in memory of his late wife, the renowned pianist and fiddle player from New York, Maureen Glynn Connolly who died from cancer in 1998. Subsequent to Maureen’s death, Martin fell in love with Pauline and they were happily married in Ennis.
During a special lunchtime concert during the 2016 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ennis, Martin performed alongside his brother Seamus and son Damien at glór, it was the first time the trio played on stage together. At the 2014 Kincora Music Weekend, the contribution of Martin and the Connolly family to music was honoured with Martin receiving a piece of glass with the inscription ‘Fort of Kincora’.
For over twenty five years, he taught music on a weekly basis from his residence in Ennis. His reputation in the traditional music world saw him regarded as the top accordion teacher in Ireland, the proof being the amount of awards claimed by his students each year. Martin was a tutor at Scoil Éigse when the Fleadhanna were last held in Clare, back in 2016 and 2017.
From an early age, Martin was interested in the mechanics of the accordion. He set up his own tuning and repair business after learning most of the skills from Nils Nielson who was regarded by many as being “the only one to tune a box”. Nielson was a former employee of the now defunct Paolo Soprani company and was exclusive tuner to the world leading accordionist Toralf Tollefson.
It is said that there was nothing Nils didn’t know about the accordion and his willingness to divulge many of his secrets to Martin were an invaluable help in bringing the Kincora Accordion to what it it became.
After returning from Quebec in 1995 Martin began designing and making his first accordion which was completed in March 1996. A year later the Kincora was awarded 1st prize in the Clare enterprise exhibition. His handmade accordions were the first choice for many musicians with strong demand for the Kincora Accordion from across the globe.
Such was the popularity and esteem of Martin’s work that this writer was regularly contacted over the past two years by musicians from all various corners of the globe to enquire about the legend behind the world-famous Kincora Accordion.
Behind the camera, Martin was just as gifted. He was the first sports photographer to work with The Clare Echo followings its establishment in 2017 and his work greatly enhanced the quality of the paper as he superbly captured the action from behind the lens. As Clare reached the All-Ireland hurling semi-finals in 2018 and came within the width of a post of sealing a place in the All-Ireland decider, Martin’s photographs aptly documented the season from start to finish.
Equally Martin’s work throughout the count at the 2019 local elections captured the drama and tension from Treacys West County Hotel on what is regarded as a significant day in the history of The Clare Echo. He also covered a wide range of events for this newspaper from musical sessions to high-profile politicians visiting the county and big events, whatever the task was Martin was always up for the job.
Prior to this, he was involved with The Clare Herald where he was ever-present in 2016 as the Colm Collins managed Clare footballers put together a memorable run that saw them overcome Laois, Sligo and Roscommon before losing out in the All-Ireland quarter-finals to Kerry.
Although nothing matched his love for photographing GAA encounters, Martin held a keen interest in soccer. He was formerly a Tottenham Hotspur’s season ticket holder and in the 90s was a weekly visitor to White Hart Lane. Locally, he was an active referee in the Clare District Soccer League for many years and he still held memories of some fierce encounters and nightmare challenges.
He was an active member of the Clare Camera Club since its foundation where he formed many strong friendships and was known to his colleagues as a gentleman always willing to lend his expertise.
To those fortunate enough to know Martin, they will remember him as a gentleman with the warmest of smiles who always paid close attention to his craft whether it was music or photographer and the end result was always testament to his master-craftsman skills.
Martin Connolly is sadly missed by his loving wife Pauline, sons Karl and Damien, daughter-in-law Sally, sister Marie, brother Seamus, stepchildren Deirdre, Aisling, Dáire and Caoilfhionn, grandchildren Colman, Tiernan, Clara and Tristan, nephews, nieces, in laws, relatives, neighbours and friends.
His funeral will take place at nnis Cathedral on Monday (July 5th) at 12:30pm with burial afterwards at Drumcliffe Cemetery. Donations if desired to Milford Hospice or Slainte and Chlair. The mass will be streamed on the Ennis Parish website.
