In Celebration of Ollie Conway

Biography

OLLIE WAS BROUGHT UP IN A MUSICAL FAMILY IN CLONINA A FEW MILES OUTSIDE THE VILLAGEOF CREE IN WEST CLARE. AS A YOUNG MAN HE REALISED HIS INTEREST IN TRADITIONAL MUSIC, SET DANCING AND SINGING, INFLUENCED BY LOCAL SINGERS AND MUSICIANS, NAMELY MIKE BARRINGTON, PADDY BREEN. KATIE BREEN AND JOSIE BAKER. WHEN HE MARRIED AND MOVED T0 MULLAGH, HE AND HIS WIFE KITTY RAN A PUBLIC HOUSE. THE LOCAL AREA WAS RICH IN TRADITIONAL CULTURE, AND THIS ALLOWED OLLIE TO ENJOY THE GREAT WEALTH OF MUSIC. SONG AND DANCE THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO HIM, IT ALSO GAVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITYTO PERFORM AND LEARN NEW SONGS MANY OF WHICH HE GOT FROM LOCAL. SINGERS LIKE JOE-MIKEY MCMAHON, SINEY CROTTY AND OTHERS FROM FURTHER AFIELD LIKE TOM PHÁIDIN TOM AND JOE HEANEY. HE LOVED THE STYLE OF THE CARNA SINGERS LIKE JOSIE SHEAIN JEAIC. JOHNNY MHAIRTIN LARRY AND "THE MASTER" SEAN MAC DONNACHA. ALSO THE CUIL AODHA BROTHERS EOINI MAIDHCHI, DAINI MAIDHCHE AND DIARMUIDÍN MAIDHCHI (RIP) O'SUILLEABHAIN.

IN 1976 OLLIE WENT ON TOUR IN AMERICA AS PART OF THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS ORGANISED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE WITH THE HELP OF CIARÁN MAC MATHÚNA AND TOM MUNNELLY.

IN 1984 HE TRAVELLED TO THE NA­TIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL. IN LOUGHBORO, ENGLAND. HE WAS ALSO PART OF THE IRISH CON­TINGENT AT THE 1984 INTERNATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL IN COLOGNE, GERMANY FOR BOTH SINGING AND DANCING. IN 1987 HE TRAVELLED TO LONDON TO PERFORM FOR ST PATRICKS DAY AND FREQUENTLY ATTENDED THE VARIOUS IRISH SINGING FESTIVALS - FORKHILL IN ARMAGH, BELEEK IN FERMANAGH, ALSO ENNISTYMON AND FEAKLE IN CLARE.

'OLLIE WAS EXCEPTIONAL IN HIS SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF USYOUNGER MUSICIANS AND SINGERS WHEN HE MET US OUT AND ABOUT. THIS WAS PARTICU­LARLY SO WHEN HE WELCOMED US INTO HIS PUBLIC HOUSE, WOE BETIDE THE EEGIT WHO SPOKE WHILE SOMEBODY WAS SINGING OR PLAYING AN AIR CLOSE TO OLLIES HEART.'       RONAN BROWNE

THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE OLLIE HELD A GREAT ADMIRATION FOR TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND THOSE WHO PRACTICED AND RESPECTED IT. HE LOOKED FORWARD TO SEEING THE FAMILIAR FACES OF MUSICIANS AND SINGERS IN 'CONWAY'S' EACH WILLIE CLANCY FESTIVAL. A CHEEKY SMILE WOULD ALWAYS APPEAR ON HIS FACE WHEN THE CUIL AODHA GANG AND DONIE NOLAN ARRIVED IN MULLAGH OR WHEN MICK FLYNN WOULD APPEAR FOR HIS HOLIDAYS. MUSICIANS ALIKE WOULD VISIT HIM WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF HEARING A STORY OR CATCHING A GLIMPSE OF HIS ANTICS. HE GAINED A REPUTATION. NOT JUST FOR HIS POWER­FUL LUNGS AND LIVELY FEET, BUT FOR HIS LOVEABLE CHARISMA AND HIS TENDENCY TO MAKE YOUR HEART WEAK FROM LAUGHTER.