PACKIE
DUIGNAN (1922-1992) FLUTE PLAYER.
Packie Duignan
was born in Arigna, Co. Roscommon, close to the border with Co.
Leitrim, in 1922. Although his family liked music, and some of
them were singers, none of them played music. The only musician
Packie could trace among his ancestors was his grandmother's brother-
a flute player called James Cawley.
When Packie was about 12 years old he started to play the tin
whistle and, after some time, he moved on to the concert flute,
which he continued to play throughout the rest of his life. The
most important musical influence in his life was the famous flute
player, John McKenna( 1880-1947) who was born
and reared in Tents, in the parish of Tarmon, Co. Leitrim, just
a few miles from Arigna. McKenna had emigrated to the United States
some years before Packie was born, and it was through his gramophone
records that Packie heard his music. Packie developed a flute
playing style similar to McKenna, a breathy, rhythmic driving
style with plenty of lift. He had great admiration for McKenna's
flute playing and he got a lot of his repertoire from McKenna's
records.
In his working life Packie worked as a miner in the Arigna coal
mines. (McKenna, before he emigrated, also worked at the Arigna
mines as a weighmaster). In the early 1950s Packie played with
the Shannon Star Ceili Band and toured the Irish
clubs in England with the band. He played on various radio and
television programmes, and competed, with some success, in the
occasional Feis competition. In the early 1970s he played in a
group called the Lough Alien Trio. They played, mainly around
the local pubs. Another member of the group was Seamus Horan,
a fiddle player from Tawnylea, near Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim. In
1978 Packie and Seamus recorded an LP for Topic Records under
the title: "Music from Co. Leitrim". This was Packie's
only commercial recording.
As well as being an excellent flute player in the North Connaught
musical style. Packie Duignan was a most enjoyable character with
a droll sense of humour. He died in March, 1992, aged 70 years.
He is buried in his native Arigna.
