From Sligo to the Big Apple

One hundred years ago, in October 1914, Irish fiddle player Michael Coleman left his native County Sligo to travel to America. He first got work performing at music halls in the Boston area, but eventually moved to New York.

Michael Coleman had a great influence on Irish music - not only because he was a great musician, but also because he was one of the first traditional performers to reach a mass market. During the 1920's and 30's, Coleman made nearly eighty 78rpm records on various labels that got wide distribution in both the USA and back home in Ireland. Many of the tunes Coleman recorded have later become standard repertoire at Irish sessions anywhere around the world.