The collection of Fr John Quinn PP, Gortletteragh, Co. Leitrim, is one of the most important private music collections in the country. Fr Quinn began collecting in the 1950s at the same time as he began a lengthy career of teaching music and organising bands. Much of his collection relates to the fiddle tradition in Longford and south Leitrim. 

Through his work, Fr Quinn has identified a tradition going back about 200 years, beginning with Thomas ‘Blind’ Kiernan/Kernan (c.1807-1887), a Longford fiddle master. The collection includes a music manuscript used by Kiernan and his student Michael Leonard in the 1840s. This can be regarded as a foundational document not only in the collection, but also in the fiddle tradition in the region. One of Fr Quinn’s former students, Dr Conor Ward, completed a PhD at Dundalk Institute of Technology, based largely on the collection. Part of Dr Ward’s work involved tracing the teaching of certain tunes by Kiernan’s pupils and then through a lineage of others, down to the present day. It also led to the discovery of some manuscripts that are privately-owned and connected with the lineage of fiddlers. A highly experienced musician and researcher has now been appointed to work on the project.

This will be a multi-annual project up to a maximum of five years. It will focus on the tunes that are part of the Longford-Leitrim tradition. 

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.