The Road from Castlebarnagh: Growing Up in Irish Music, A Memoir (Bi)

A lyrical account of growing up in County Offaly in the 1950s and 1960s. Paddy O'Brien grew up at a time when the social life in the Irish countryside often took place around the hearth fire, where stories were told and music was played. In his book he writes of the many colorful characters who shaped his perception of Irish life and culture. Showing Paddy's flair for story telling and written in gentle, musical prose, The Road from Castlebarnagh is the story of the making of one of Ireland's most talented traditional musicians. With a foot in both old and new worlds, musically gifted Paddy O'Brien soaked up all he heard and then transformed it into his own inimitable style. His memoir is a rare gift: not just a retelling of personal history but representative of the development of great musicians everywhere: the crossroads where heritage and individual talent meet.""-Irish Gazette