Mick Carr (1896 – 1975)

(5th May 1896 – 30th March 1975)

Mick Carr And Andrew McGinley

Mick Carr, a fiddle and melodeon player from Mín an Aoire was regarded as one of the most influential musicians in the locality of south-west Donegal. He learned to play the melodeon at an early age and as a young man formed a close playing partnership with Andrew McGinley. Mick also excelled on the fiddle, the instrument on which as a young man, he won a medal at a Feis in Teileann. Dance music was an everyday enjoyment for Mick, and he travelled far and wide in south-west Donegal to play, share and exchange dance tunes. Over time he amassed a huge repertoire and shared his tunes with visiting players such as Patrick Doherty, Paddy O’Gara, James Byrne and travelling musicians such as John Doherty. Other local musicians who played regularly with Mick were Jimmy Neddy Boyle, Barney Molloy and Frank McGinley. Of the eleven children that Mick and his wife Mary had together, eight survived. Mick passed his love of music on to his family, four of whom played.

‘The Derry Hornpipe’ performed by Mick Carr