Jimmy Lyons (1903 – 1977)

Jimmy Lyons

(19th May 1903 – 17th January 1977)

Jimmy was born in the townland of Iomaire Mhuireanáin but spent much of his adult life at Rann na Cille. As a young boy he was greatly influenced by the lilting of his father, John, who was also a source of tunes for Frank Cassidy. As a young man, Jimmy fished in Teileann for a living before emigrating to the United Kingdom in 1950, where he settled in Rugby. A first cousin of Connie Haughey, Jimmy played the fiddle with a lovely sweet style and his music is still held in high regard by the younger generation of musicians. Many hornpipes and highlands are associated with him, for example his playing of the highland, ‘The Money Musk’ among others. Jimmy was also regarded locally as a good step-dancer. He passed away in January 1977 and is buried in the graveyard in An Charraig.