SUMMER SCHOOL OF EARLY IRISH HARP
JIMMY O'BRIEN MORAN
Lecturer, Scoil na gCláirseach
Jimmy O'Brien Moran became fascinated with the uilleann pipes in the early 70's, mainly through Liam O'FIynn and Planxty and began his study of the pipes with Tommy Kearney in 1975. He attended the Willie Clancy Summer School for a number of years and taught the advanced uilleann pipes class there from 1977 to 1980 He has recently begun teaching there again.
His influences are mostly pipers, particularly Willie Clancy and Séamus Ennis, but his listening interests are quite diverse. His most recent teaching foray was with Seán McKiernan for the SoCal pipers at San Juan Capistrano last October/November where his class was described as 'the fiery circle of death'.
His recording career began as one of seven contributors to an album of young pipers. This recording (The Pipers' Rock) is now considered a classic. As a member of the group Scullion he recorded on their first album and also played with James Kelly on his album The Ring Sessions. In December 1996 he released a solo recording entitled Seán Reid's Favourite. The title comes from a tune named (by Willie Clancy) after Seán Reid (1907-1978) who kindly gave Jimmy the old B set of Colgan pipes on loan for life.
Jimmy O'Brien Moran was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Limerick in 2006 and is currently Fulbright - Culture Ireland Visiting Professor in Irish Studies at Boston College.