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J - Comhaltas Archive

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A Quest For The Perfect Whistle<br />

Pat O'Riordan pictured above at a<br />

recent Fleadh Nua in the Banner<br />

County is an instrument maker who has<br />

come home to his roots, musically . His<br />

west Limerick parents moved to<br />

Coventry back in 1922, but he adds, "of<br />

course I had the experience of holidays<br />

every summer in Foynes when I was<br />

growing up".<br />

Apprenticed to trade as a toolmaker,<br />

he did "what every youngster did then,<br />

I lied about my age and joined the<br />

Royal Navy" . Following time in service,<br />

he enrolled in a draughtsman's<br />

training fellowship which eventually led<br />

to an engineering career in the United<br />

States with the R.E .A. Magnet Wire<br />

Company of Fort Wayne , Indiana.<br />

Having a successfu vocation in engineering,<br />

the youthful grandfather of fiftyeight<br />

years of age has not failed to cultivate<br />

the music in his soul with an advocation<br />

towards instrument making.<br />

"This is where my original apprenticeship<br />

has served me well. It is those skills<br />

that I learned as an apprentice long ago<br />

that I am putting to use now in my instrument<br />

making".<br />

Being a resident of the United States<br />

and being situated well within the abundant<br />

Appalacian Mountain Radio signal<br />

belt, Pat began his hobby of instrument<br />

making by constru

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