It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Mike Brady on July 1. 2009. Mike, one of many fine fiddle players to come out of East Clare, played with Green Gates frequently, either as a substitute or as an enhancment to the core band, and enhance it he did.

     Mike Brady, also known to many as Mickey, was born in Flagmount, Co Clare and lived in Bay Shore, Long Island for many years. His father played fiddle and Mike was sent to P J Hayes to learn to play. He also played with Bill Loughnane, Vincent Griffin and Paddy Canny. He played at house dances and sat in with the Tulla Ceili Band on occasion. He would later reminisce frequently about the "grand" sessions at Pepper's in Feakle.

     Mike arrived in Brooklyn in 1958 and played music as a member of the Patsy Tuohy Club there. Among the jobs he held, he probably spent the longest with the Queens Surface Corp., retiring from there several years ago. He became too busy for music after marrying, but returned to it toward the end of the 1990s.

     Mike, along with Brendan Fahey and myself, was a founding member of the Ceol na gCroí Ceili Band. He and I played with them from 2000 to 2003. 

     He just loved to play the music wherever and whenever he could. (He preferred reels more than anything else.) Although a shy, unassuming man by nature, who just wanted to stay in the background, Mike always wanted people to be happy and smiling, particularly other musicians. He played frequently at the Doonbeg Social Club and could often be found sitting in with different bands at various ceilis.

     In recent years, Mike's family in Ireland had been requesting a recording of his playing. In Dec. 2007, a private CD of Mike's playing, Music from Flagmount, was issued. He was just starting to talk about plans for doing another recording, this time a duet album with our original flute player, Pat Casey.

     Mike was a member of the Mulligan Quinn Branch of CCE, and was always there playing at their monthly sessions in Mineola. In May 2009, he received a Service Recognition Award from the branch at their last monthly ceili. It would be the last time we'd play together.

     Our condolences are extended to his wife and family.

     Slán agus beannacht leat, Mike. You will be missed.

- Denis O'Driscoll