The Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) is committed to providing free, universal access to the rich cultural tradition of Irish music, song and dance. If you’re able, we’d love for you to consider a donation. Any level of support will help us preserve and grow this tradition for future generations.
1925-2014
This project is co-funded by Ireland’s Department of Culture, Communications & Sport and Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade as part of America 250.
Paddy Cronin is remembered as one of the most highly regarded musicians to emigrate to Boston. An exemplary musician before arriving in Boston in 1949, Cronin quickly gained interest from Bostonians as part of the New State Ballroom Céilí Band with Sean McGlynn, Eamon Flynn, Mike McHale, Des Regan, George Shanley, and others. Paddy was regularly recruited to play for kitchen rackets and other social gatherings in Boston. While in Boston he deeply studied the music of Michael Coleman and James Morrison, whose influence can be heard on the many 78rpm recordings Paddy made for Copley records. These recordings were made by Justus O’Byrne Dewitt and were recorded in Roxbury, MA, including several popular sides with flute player Frank Neylon. Cronin travelled to the All-Ireland Céilí Band competition twice with the Boston-based “Connacht Céilí Band”, and recorded numerous vinyl albums with local Boston style piano players including Rakish Paddy. Paddy is still fondly remembered as a talented musician with a strong commitment to an older style of Irish traditional music.
