Hi, I’m Gerry O’Connor.

I grew up in Dundalk, County Louth, in a family where music was part of everyday life. We were surrounded by musicians, dancers, and singers, and that shaped me from the very start.

My mother, Rose O’Connor, née O’Brien, taught me and my siblings the fiddle at home. She gave us far more than lessons. She gave us patience, discipline, and a deep respect for the music. Teaching was her life’s work. For over 40 years, people travelled from Armagh, Dublin, and well beyond to learn from her. She believed in sharing what she knew, and she did it with generosity and care. Everything I do in music carries her influence.

My father, Peter, was a singer, and music ran strongly through his side of the family too. Seven of his uncles played music, so the songs and tunes were never far away.

That upbringing grounded me. It gave me my craft, my values, and my sense of where I come from.