Paddy Killoran

Who was Paddy Killoran?

Paddy Killoran was an Irish musician.

Killoran was born near Ballymote, County Sligo, Ireland. He is regarded, along with his mentor James Morrison and the great Michael Coleman, as one of the finest exponents of the south Sligo fiddle style in the "golden age" of the ethnic recording industry of the 1920s and '30s.

In the 1920s, Killoran emigrated to New York where he polished his fiddling under Morrison's tutelage and launched his own career as a recording artist and band leader. He made dozens of 78 rpm discs as a soloist, in duets with fellow Sligo fiddler Paddy Sweeney, and as the leader of his "Pride of Erin Orchestra."

Killoran's career continued through the depression and into the 1950s, when he recorded some tracks with Sligo flute player Mike Flynn. On occasion, his band was hired to play on trans-Atlantic liners and Killoran visited Ireland several times. He appeared on Irish radio at least once during these trips and visited both Sligo and his wife's home in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.