CCÉ Northeast Regional Hall of Fame Inductees Michael McDonough
Michael McDonough – Button Accordion Inducted to the Hall of Fame by the Northeast Region of the North American Province – November 10, 2001
Early Life
Michael (Mike) McDonough (RIP) was born in Calla, Roundstone, Co. Galway, into a household where there was always music. His father played for local house dances.
On a path towards excellence
At the age of eight, with the help of his stepbrother John Diamond, Mike took up the accordion. He advanced quickly, and while working in Athlone be became the Midlands of Ireland Champion in 1948. Mike also played with the Ballinakill Ceili Band, the Tom Killahue Ceili Band, and the Cashel and Kingstown Ceili Bands.
Immigration & the service but always the musician
Eventually coming to the U.S., Mike settled in Boston and entered the service, stationed in Germany.Even in Germany, Mike kept playing the music, and on returning to Boston, he became the music director of a number of Irish clubs in the area. A founder-member of the Norwood Irish Music Club and the Connacht Ceili Band, he led the Connacht Ceili Band to many New England Championships during the 1960s, and in 1966 issued a recording of Mike McDonough’s Connacht Ceili Band. He was a member of the band during its Irish tours in 1969 and 1971, and remained active in the band through the 1980s.
A great friend and admirer of Paddy O’Brien from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Mike showed the influence of Paddy O’Brien in his playing—but he always had a great steady style of his own.
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This Page revised by Larry Tormey 2/22/2009.