Irish uilleann piper Paddy Keenan died on September 9, 2026, at the age of 76. He is considered to be one of the most celebrated traditional Irish musicians of all time. The legacy of his contributions to traditional Irish music are being remembered by musicians and fans around the world.
Keenan was born in Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland. He comes from a
line of uilleann pipers, being the third generation to pick up the instrument
at the age of 10. When he was 14, he played his first major concert at the Gaiety
Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. He began performing with his family with a band
called the Pavees.
He became a founding member of The Bothy Band in 1975, and he
made significant contributions to the band’s revolutionary Irish sound. Keenan
was awarded the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Ceoltóir na Bliana / Musician of the Year
award in 2002 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Music
Association.