Andrew McGinley (1897 – 1934)

(29 April 1897 – 22 December 1934)

Mick Carr And Andrew McGinley

Andrew (wee Andy) McGinley of Mín an Aoire was very highly regarded as a fiddle player. He formed an early playing partnership with Mick Carr, with whom he travelled as far as An Port in Gleann Cholmcille and into the neighbouring parish of Ard an Ratha to play at big nights. He was related to Jimmy Bhidi Mhici of Cionn na Coilleadh and indeed Jimmy often walked to Mín an Aoire to play along with Andy and his brother, Christy. As a result of an accident when he was ten years old, Andy never developed to his full natural height. Unable to work in heavy manual labour, he engaged in lighter duties and found employment as a court clerk and at his father’s shop in Mín an Aoire. Although he passed away at the early age of thirty seven, tunes associated with him are still played regularly at sessions in south-west Donegal.

A tune associated with Andy performed by Míchéal Cherry

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