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Patrick "Pakie" or "Packie" Russell (1920 in Doonagore,
Doolin – 4 September 1977) was a
stonecutter
Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, mo ...
and a well known Irish traditional concertina player and storyteller out of
Doolin,
County Clare,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
. He was one of the three Russell brothers to earn fame as musician, together with his brothers
Micho and
Gussie.
Packie learned to play music on a very young age, learning most of his skills from his mother and from his neighbour Patrick Flanagan, both gifted
concertina players.
Packie and his brothers first got attention outside Doolin due to the work of the
Irish Folklore Commission
The Irish Folklore Commission (''Coimisiún Béaloideasa Éireann'' in Irish) was set up in 1935 by the Irish Government to study and collect information on the folklore and traditions of Ireland.
History
Séamus Ó Duilearga (James Hamilton Dela ...
. In the late 1930s
Seamus O' Duillearga was active in
County Clare and recorded stories and music, including music of the Russell brothers. Later recordings by others also brought them a wider public.
Personal
He was born as one of five children of Austin Russell and Annie Moloney. He had two brothers and two sisters.
Packie Russells main occupation was as stone cutter in the quarry at
Doonagore. Besides being a gifted musician, he was also a gifted storyteller.
While his brother Micho toured around the world, Packie (and Gussie) stayed at home in Doolin, playing most of his time in
Gus O'Connor's Pub in Doolin. Still his death in 1977 made national headlines and national TV.
Recordings
* ''The Russell Family of Doolin, Co. Clare''; Micho, Packie and Gussie Russell. Recorded by John Tams and Neil Wayne in
O'Connor's Bar, Doolin January 1974. Published in 1975 by Topic Records.
* ''Keepers of Tradition Concertina players of County Clare''
References
External links
*
* Playing from left to right: Packie Russell (concertina),
Gussie Russell
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Austin (Gussie) Russell (1917, Doonagore, Doolin – 18 May 2004, Ennistymon Hospital) was a stonecutter and a well known Irish traditional flute and whistle player out of Doolin, County Clare, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. He was one o ...
(concert flute),
John Killourhy
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second E ...
(
fiddle
A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, th ...
),
Rory O´Connor (
whistle),
Stevie McNamara Stevie may refer to:
People with the name Given name
*Stevie (given name), a list of people
People with the nickname or alias
*Stevie B, American singer, songwriter and record producer Steven Bernard Hill (born 1958)
*Stevie J, stage name of Ameri ...
(
tambourine
The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though ...
) and
Willie 'Bheag' Shannon (fiddle).
{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Packie
1920 births
1977 deaths
Concertina players
Musicians from County Clare