In the 1960's, Liam first gained public recognition when he
won prizes at the Oireachtas Festival and the Fleadh Ceoil.
He later won international acclaim as member of the group Planxty
of which he was a founder member in the early 70's with Christy
Moore, Donal Lunny and Andy Irvine. Planxty's influence and
the originality has never been surpassed.
In 1985 Liam was honoured in the Irish National Entertainment
awards, its inaugural year, for his unique contribution in the
field of traditional music.
Liam has performed with many of Ireland's top musicians as
well as internationally recognised artists, Kate Bush, The Everly
Brothers, Enya, Nigel Kennedy, and Mark Knopfler with whom he
recorded the music for the film 'Cal' as well as appearing on
Mark's latest solo album 'Golden Heart'. Other film scores Liam
has worked on include "The Field" and "A River runs Through
It", music by Elmer Bernstein, "Kidnapped" and "Roses from Dublin",
music by Vladimir Cosma. He has also worked with avant-garde
composer the late John Cage in America and Europe.
Liam has always sought out new and imaginative areas to bring
his piping, he regularly performs with Nobel laureate, Seamus
Heaney as well as with organist Catherine Ennis, daughter of
Seamus Ennis.
He received further international acclaim in 1980 with the
release of Shaun's The Brendan Voyage. He also featured on Shaun's
compositions, Granuaile, The Pilgrim and the Relief of Derry
Symphony. To this day Liam features in the live performances
of all these works.
While Liam has featured on over fifty recordings some of his
most recent albums include;
- "Out To An Other Side" Produced by Shaun and released in
1994, brought out the best of Liam's piping with a selection
of his favourite tunes and airs.
- His award winning album "The Given Note", also produced
by Shaun, was released in 1995. It featured top musicians
Arty McGlynn, Rod McVey, Steve Cooney, And gave rise to the
very successful 'Liam O'Flynn Band', including Arty on guitar
and Rod on keyboards, together they has toured very successfully
throughout Europe and Coast to Coast in America as well as
a number of high profile festival events.
- "The Pipers Call" album and video. As well as the musicians
from the band there are also guest appearances by Mark Knopfler,
Sean Keane & Matt Molloy, Carlos Nunez, and The Irish Chamber
Orchestra. During the recording of this album Liam Received
a phone call from president elect Mary McAleese requesting
him to compose and play a piece of music for her inaugration
based on the theme of her presidency - building bridges. Not
phased by this at all he set too straight away and wrote An
Droichead (The Bridge) which has become one of the most popular
tracks of the album.
- Liam has recently recorded an album of piping and poetry
with Seamus Heaney "The Poet & The Piper - Keeping Time"
which is due for release on Claddagh records early in the
new year. Over the last few years Liam and Seamus performed
sold out concerts in Dublin's Gate Theatre, London's Barbican
Centre, The Kennedy Centre, Washington, The Glasgow Royal
Concert Hall and Kilkenny Arts Festival all of which were
critically acclaimed by all that were lucky enough to get
tickets.
For its 1999 season that most prestigious of music festivals,
the BBC Proms concert series,decided to devote a special Proms
concert to traditional Irish music. It was Liam O'Flynn and
his Piper's Call Band, including Arty McGlynn, Rod McVey and
Liam Bradley, who were chosen, by the BBC, for this historic
event at London's Royal Albert Hall The rapturous reception
and standing ovation received by Liam and the band proved to
all that the power and beauty of Liam's music could shine in
any forum.
