Liam’s ready for a new challenge

Ahead of his show in Killarney next month, Fergus Dennehy sat down to chat with the hugely talented, multi - instrumentalist and Killarney favourite, Liam O’ Connor, about his career, his children and everything in between.

SITTING across the table from Liam O’ Connor, the one thing that stands out above all else about this Killarney based musician is his character.

Simply put, for a man who has been described by the legendary Michael Flatley as someone whose “pure talent and charisma are unmatched in the accordion world”, there were no airs and graces about him and so it was hard not to feel at ease with the chatty, friendly and humble Newmarket native.

Holder of the Guinness World Record for ‘Fastest Fingers in the World’, an original accordion player in Michael Flatley’s ‘Lord of the Dance’ and an internationally renowned musician of 20 different instruments who has performed in Croke Park and at two different Ryder Cups, Liam is certainly not short of a few stories to tell.

I’m chatting to him ahead of his upcoming show in The Friary Church in Killarney on Sunday October 1, where he will be joined by guest Moya Brennan and, as expected, our conversation is as wide and varied as Liam’s own illustrious career.

“I’m coming from the Sliabh Luachra background and while I’m rooted in Irish music, my songs are so eclectic now and they cover so many different genres. I’ve lots of influences in my head these days. I suppose you could say that my music is full of very high octane energy.”

“We had a very creative household back when I was growing up. My mother, who died quite very young, was fantastic and driven to the last. Dad too of course was brilliant but I, as the youngest of the seven children, at about 12 years-of-age I took Mom’s torch and drove on with it big time.”

Having achieved so much in his lifetime, it’s hard then to put a finger on when Liam got his first ‘big break’ in the industry. By the time he was first noticed by Michael Flatley and asked to perform as the accordion player in ‘Lord of The Dance’, Liam had already secured his very own record deal with Universal Music for his album ‘The Awakening’.

Speaking about touring the world with what is now a legendary show, Liam refers to it simply as a “great experience” working with the “master of his craft” in Michael Flatley and one who helped to put him on a world stage.

Very much his own man who says he is – and who always has – been determined to do things his own way, Liam is probably best known around Kerry for his Killarney performances, where he performed in The Killarney Avenue for 12 years.

“It was great. I’ve some great, great memories from my time there, it was near home so there were no long tours, but I’ll say this, it was very hard. There were some brilliant nights there and we had a lot of success but, again, it was a tough business at times,” he continued.

“The shows were geared towards an American audience and because of this, a lot of the shows were dependent on tourism and tourist numbers and buses and all that, so it was tough in that sense, but, overall, it was great to do it and experience it.”

“That’s over now though and I’m ready to take on the next challenge. I’d be very driven, you know. I’d be my own type of musician and do things my own way as well, because the way I see it, people will either like it or they won’t, you can’t please everybody. I’m ready to do things now that I want to be doing and I’ve actually just finished recording a

track with Boy George. So at the moment like I said, it’s all about doing things that I like and enjoy, I’m really enjoying the freedom,” he added.

With doing things for his enjoyment surely comes great experiences and, of course, talk quickly turns to some of the more prestigious events that Liam has been honoured to play at over the years - including six half-time shows at Croke Park at the All-Ireland Finals.

“Playing the half-time show at Croke Park and walking out into that arena to play is simply amazing. Now, of course, it’s daunting with something like 80,000 eyes on you. We got about eight to 10 minutes out there and while you’re playing mostly to the Hogan Stand, it’s simply a wonderful place to play. As I always say, where else would you rather be on All-Ireland day than in the centre of the pitch in Croke Park!” he laughed.

“I was up at the K Club a few days ago as well and it was very nice to be able to say to some of the people there that I actually played and performed there. That was definitely a proud moment.”

“Being asked to play The Late, Late Show as well over the years was a huge honour. It’s such a huge thing in our society, so for me to be able to play for all three hosts in Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny and Ryan Tubridy is amazing. I’ll have to keep the record going now.” he added with a smile.

When it comes to his own “creative household”, it seems that the apple has not fallen far from the tree, with his children Saoirse and Oisín joining him on stage in recent years, something which he says he is incredibly proud of.

“I brought them into the line-up with me because I wanted them to enjoy playing their music. They were doing their music grades but they wanted to do more. If you get into playing with people though, it’s a whole different experience. It’s a great feeling to be able to play and experience music with them.

“Saoirse is piano and concertina and vocals, Oisín is lead guitar, acoustic guitar and drums and the small guy does a small bit of percussion and break dancing. I want to let them do their own thing and make sure that they enjoy what they’re playing,” he added.

Introducing the next generation to music is high on the list of Liam’s priorities, evidenced by his role as music tutor to the children of St Brendan’s College in Killarney.

“I go in and I help to coach the kids there, along with the help of the music teacher there. We’ve four years done there now and we’ve managed to bring on the level of music there to an incredibly high level,” he said.

“We work with the choir and the musicians throughout the year and we then have different speakers come in along with audiences to see them perform. That’ll be running again in the next year so that’s something to look forward to again.”

On his upcoming show in Killarney, Liam said that audiences will have a great night in store if they do decide to come along.

“It’s high energy, but the energy in this show in The Friary on October 1 will be a little different because we’re very lucky to be joined by Moya Brennan who will be with us on the night. She’s the voice of Clannad so we’re delighted to have her with us.

“She’ll be doing her thing, I’ll be doing mine and, for sure, we’re going to be collaborating on different things on the night as well and we’ll have a very big band playing with us. It’ll be a great night for everyone to enjoy.”

It’s not about the money for me. It’s a passion, it’s something that I love and something I’m very happy to be doing. Playing music I want to play, enjoying the craft with people that I want to be playing with – that’s what it’s all about for me right now.