For the English author who worte Cat in Gloves under this name, see Peter Green (historian).
Denis "Dinny" Delaney (6 August 1841 – 29 November 1919) was a well-known blind Irish piper who lived most of his life in Ballinasloe. The Dinny Delaney Festival is celebrated annually in Ballinasloe in his honour.
His parents died not long after he was born, leaving him and his sister orphaned. He caught smallpox at the age of 13, leaving him permanently blinded. He was taught to play uilleann pipes when he was a teenager by a travelling musician named Mickey Willis.
In 1897, he joined uilleann piping competitions, earning multiple prizes and becoming more well known. It was also around this time that his playing of songs on his pipes were recorded, many of these are still preserved and can be listened to today.[2]
In 1916 He was arrested after playing Repeal of the Union outside Mountbellew police station in the wake of the Easter Rising. Dinny's pipes were thrashed as he was arrested, leading to a nation-wide subscription to help pay to get the famous instrument repaired. The community endeavour quickly raised more than five times the sum necessary for the work and materials required and so the balance, after the pipe-maker was paid, was promptly awarded to Dinny himself as a mark of the respect and esteem with which he was held within the nation.[3]
He was described by O'Neill as "One of the few surviving, good, old-time players of the rollicking style ... Robust in build and ruddy of complexion, he is one of the central figures in its life, and in its celebrated fair." O'Neill went on to say:
"Though totally blind, he is, strange to say, unsurpassed as a judge of cattle and other kinds of farm stock, and so well recognized is his skill in this respect that at fair and market his opinion is eagerly sought when trading is in progress. Stranger still is the fact that furniture moving is his principal occupation. With a table on his head, or a cupboard on his back, he can make his way safely all over town. To see him thus engaged and without a trace of timidity in his footsteps, a stranger would never suspect that he was blind."
"Gifted with great conversational powers, an endless fund of humor, and a tenacious memory, he is naturally the life of every gathering which he attends. With such attractions, not to mention his qualifications as a prize-winning piper, we can understand how he won the heart and hand of a buxom young colleen half his age, it being his second matrimonial venture."
"The jolly Denis, having "seen" to the burial of an old friend and brother piper, naturally "came in" for his beautiful set of pipes. He disposed of his own superannuated set, made by the elder Kenna in 1781, to Mr. Wayland, the irrepressible enthusiast and untiring promoter, of Cork, he being the fifth proud possessor of this specimen of Kenna's handiwork."
"The first owner after coming from the hands of the maker was a Mr. Burke of Tyquin, near Athenry, County Galway, and their cost ten pounds. By bequest they became the property of Mr. Burke's nephew, Mr. C. Natton, of Kingstown. Dublin, from whom Denis Delaney purchased them in 1873."
Delaney died of pneumonia on 29 November 1919 in the infirmary of Ballinasloe Workhouse.[4] According to his death certificate, he was 78. He was married twice: in 1869 to Catherine Coleman and in 1904 to Maria Flannery.[citation needed]
LegacyEdit
The Dinny Delaney Festival is an annual three day long traditional music festival, celebrating the traditions of uilleann pipes, in commemoration of Delaney, it is held in his native Ballinasloe.[5][6] The festival includes concerts, masterclasses, sessions and livestreams.[7]
Irish pipers of distinction, Chapter XXII, Irish Minstrels and Musicians, by Capt. Francis O'Neill, Chicago, 1913.
August 25, 2023
dinny, delaney, english, author, worte, gloves, under, this, name, peter, green, historian, denis, dinny, delaney, august, 1841, november, 1919, well, known, blind, irish, piper, lived, most, life, ballinasloe, festival, celebrated, annually, ballinasloe, hono. For the English author who worte Cat in Gloves under this name see Peter Green historian Denis Dinny Delaney 6 August 1841 29 November 1919 was a well known blind Irish piper who lived most of his life in Ballinasloe The Dinny Delaney Festival is celebrated annually in Ballinasloe in his honour Denis DelaneyDelaney in 1913Born 1841 08 06 6 August 1841Tulrush County Roscommon IrelandDied29 November 1919 1919 11 29 aged 78 Ballinasloe County Galway IrelandOccupationUilleann PiperDelaney was born in Tulrush in the County Roscommon part of Ballinasloe parish 1 but lived most of his life in Ballinasloe Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditHis parents died not long after he was born leaving him and his sister orphaned He caught smallpox at the age of 13 leaving him permanently blinded He was taught to play uilleann pipes when he was a teenager by a travelling musician named Mickey Willis In 1897 he joined uilleann piping competitions earning multiple prizes and becoming more well known It was also around this time that his playing of songs on his pipes were recorded many of these are still preserved and can be listened to today 2 In 1916 He was arrested after playing Repeal of the Union outside Mountbellew police station in the wake of the Easter Rising Dinny s pipes were thrashed as he was arrested leading to a nation wide subscription to help pay to get the famous instrument repaired The community endeavour quickly raised more than five times the sum necessary for the work and materials required and so the balance after the pipe maker was paid was promptly awarded to Dinny himself as a mark of the respect and esteem with which he was held within the nation 3 He was described by O Neill as One of the few surviving good old time players of the rollicking style Robust in build and ruddy of complexion he is one of the central figures in its life and in its celebrated fair O Neill went on to say Though totally blind he is strange to say unsurpassed as a judge of cattle and other kinds of farm stock and so well recognized is his skill in this respect that at fair and market his opinion is eagerly sought when trading is in progress Stranger still is the fact that furniture moving is his principal occupation With a table on his head or a cupboard on his back he can make his way safely all over town To see him thus engaged and without a trace of timidity in his footsteps a stranger would never suspect that he was blind Gifted with great conversational powers an endless fund of humor and a tenacious memory he is naturally the life of every gathering which he attends With such attractions not to mention his qualifications as a prize winning piper we can understand how he won the heart and hand of a buxom young colleen half his age it being his second matrimonial venture The jolly Denis having seen to the burial of an old friend and brother piper naturally came in for his beautiful set of pipes He disposed of his own superannuated set made by the elder Kenna in 1781 to Mr Wayland the irrepressible enthusiast and untiring promoter of Cork he being the fifth proud possessor of this specimen of Kenna s handiwork The first owner after coming from the hands of the maker was a Mr Burke of Tyquin near Athenry County Galway and their cost ten pounds By bequest they became the property of Mr Burke s nephew Mr C Natton of Kingstown Dublin from whom Denis Delaney purchased them in 1873 Delaney died of pneumonia on 29 November 1919 in the infirmary of Ballinasloe Workhouse 4 According to his death certificate he was 78 He was married twice in 1869 to Catherine Coleman and in 1904 to Maria Flannery citation needed Legacy EditThe Dinny Delaney Festival is an annual three day long traditional music festival celebrating the traditions of uilleann pipes in commemoration of Delaney it is held in his native Ballinasloe 5 6 The festival includes concerts masterclasses sessions and livestreams 7 See also EditUilleann Pipes BallinasloeReferences Edit Dinny Delaney Catholic Press 17 March 1921 Retrieved 19 October 2016 via National Library of Australia PDF 1 13 Piping contests at the Feis 1897 1935 About IrishGenealogy ie 20 January 1920 Retrieved 19 September 2016 Dinny Delaney Festival dinnydelaney com Retrieved 2 May 2022 The Dinny Delaney Festival Uilleann Pipes Festival Ballinasloe visitgalway ie Retrieved 2 May 2022 Murphy Judy 29 April 2022 Top musicians for Ballinasloe festival in honour of piper Dinny Connacht Tribune Retrieved 2 May 2022 External links Edithttp billhaneman ie IMM IMM XXII html Irish pipers of distinction Chapter XXII Irish Minstrels and Musicians by Capt Francis O Neill Chicago 1913 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dinny Delaney amp oldid 1170959952, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
