Martin McGinley

Martin McGinley is a well-known Irish traditional fiddle player and is editor of the Derry Journal, one of the most prominent regional weeklies in Ireland. He is a former presenter of the Pure Drop traditional music series on the Irish television station RTÉ, and has also presented radio programmes on RTÉ Radio 1, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio 3. In the 1990s he worked as a radio and television reporter with BBC Northern Ireland in Belfast. He lives in Ramelton, County Donegal, with his wife, the painter Janet Ross Graham, and their two children.

Martin got a job as a reporter with the Derry People and Donegal News in Letterkenny in 1978 and left it for a short stint as a professional musician in the folk group Ferdia. He joined the Derry Journal, first working in Letterkenny and then moving to Derry, where 'the Troubles' - shootings, bombings, rioting and political discord - were still very much part of everyday life. A year at BBC Radio Foyle followed before Martin joined the BBC radio news desk in Belfast in the late 80s. During seven years at Broadcasting House, he also worked in radio current affairs and in television news, covering events such as the Ormeau Road bookies' attack, the Halloween attack in Greysteel and the Teebane bombing, all resulting in multiple fatalities.

In the mid 90s Martin returned to Donegal and bought the Sail Inn pub in Killybegs with his partner Janet. It became a well-known venue for traditional music sessions and played host to many leading musicians, including members of Altan and Dervish, Tommy Peoples, Joe Burke, P.J. Hernon, Mick Moloney and Jean Michel Veillon. Donegal fiddlers such as the Campbells and James Byrne were regular visitors. Two recordings of the RTÉ programme 'Ceili House' were made there. The Sail Inn also hosted Allingham Nights of poetry and music annually on 8th January, the anniversary of the date the Ballyshannon poet William Allingham (1824 - 1889) wrote 'The Fairies' in the house opposite. Poets who performed included James Simmons (http://www.irishwriters-online.com/jamessimmons.html) and Ciaran Carson.

In 2001 Martin became editor-in-chief of the Donegal Democrat and Donegal Peoples Press. During his time with the papers, the Tuesday edition was the fastest-growing regional newspaper in Ireland and the UK. He left to set up a PR company in 2004 and became editor of the Derry Journal on the retirement of Pat McArt in 2006.

Martin was born in 1961 and brought up in Raphoe, County Donegal, the son of fiddler Kathleen McGinley nee Duggan, from Brockagh, St Johnston. He was taught classical violin initially by Maureen McGranaghan, sister of traditional player Tony. His early influences as a fiddle player included recordings of Tommy Peoples and Andy McGann, as well as contact in the local music sessions with East Donegal fiddlers such as Charlie Patton, Charlie Joe Gordon, George Peoples and Frank Kelly. He was exposed to the flute tradition through the music of the Leitrim flute player Sean Lee, living in Letterkenny, and also through weekend escapades with the legendary Arigna player Packie Duignan.

In his late teens, Martin developed a strong interest in the fiddle music of south and west Donegal, in particular the playing of the travelling fiddle master John Doherty. For many years he was in regular contact with the great Dungloe fiddle player Danny O'Donnell, who lived in Ballybofey and later back in Dungloe. In the early 80s Martin spent considerable time in south-west Donegal, hearing and playing with the likes of fiddlers James Byrne and Con Cassidy, and he taught regularly in the Donegal Fiddle School in Glencolumbkille. His move to Belfast brought sessions with many players there, including the maestro himself, Sean Maguire (http://comhaltas.ie/music/treoir/issue/summer_2005/).

Recordings include 'The Boys of Sligo', the opening album from a nascent Dervish, and 'The Fiddle Music of Donegal, vol one'. Recorded compositions include 'The Raphoe Reel' and the hornpipes 'Mrs McGinley's' and 'The Bunglass Lass'.

Playing partners over the years have included accordionists Shane Mitchell from Sligo and Jim McGrath from Fermanagh (www.jimmcgrathmusic.com), and the guitar player from Teelin in south-west Donegal, Sean Con Johnny (Byrne). More recently Martin has been playing occasional acoustic sets with the singer-songwriter Paul Buckley (http://www.paulbuckley.co.uk/), who's also living in Ramelton.

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