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The president has led tributes following the death of acclaimed traditional musician Joe Burke, who passed away at age 81.
He died peacefully on Saturday surrounded by his family in the care of Galway Hospice.
Galway’s Mr. Burke was a master accordionist whose recording and performing career spanned half a century and inspired generations of younger musicians.
Michael D Higgins said that the news of the death of the “distinguished and influential accordionist” will have saddened countless music lovers and fans of traditional Irish music at home and abroad.
“His legacy, not only the great archive of his music, but also the love for music that he ignited among countless young musicians, will continue to inspire,” said President Higgins.
“Sabina and I send our condolences to Ann Conroy Burke, her family and friends, and all those whose hearts he touched.”
Burke started playing traditional music at age four and bought his first button accordion in the 1950s.
He was a founding member of the Leitrim Ceilí Band in 1956 and toured the United States with the band in the early 1960s.
Although he could play various instruments, including the violin, tin whistle, flute, and uilleann flutes, it was his mastery and style of playing the button accordion that made him famous.
He was named RTÉ Traditional Musician of the Year in 1970, AIB Traditional Musician of the Year in 1997, and was awarded a Master’s of Music from Boston College in 2000.
He lived in the United States from 1988 to 1991 and returned to East Galway in 1992 where he continued to teach and perform music.
The Irish Traditional Music Archive said he will be “forever remembered as one of the most influential accordionists of his time.”
“His lifelong passion for traditional Irish music was contagious to anyone fortunate enough to speak or perform with him,” said a spokesperson.
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