Joe’s Background
“Joe ‘Lacky’ Gallagher was born in 1918 in the townland of Cloonamurgal near Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim. Lacky comes from the shortened form of his father’s name, Malachy. This was a way of distinguishing him from other Gallaghers who may also have been called Joe. As well as being a master fiddler, Joe worked hard and had various jobs. He was a farmer, a carpenter, learned some blacksmithing, had a quarry business, delivered coal around the area and reconstructed the old family house, in the kitchen of which there was as likely to be a lorry engine being repaired or a session in full swing on a cold winter’s night. Joe died aged 60, way too young, but left a great legacy of music and a life well lived.”
Excerpt from Dermot Kearney’s review of Joe Lacky Gallagher’s album “The Leitrim Cake” in The Living Tradition magazine.
RTÉ Recordings
Recorded by RTÉ in 1948, Joe Gallagher here plays two reels
And from that same recording, Joe plays two hornpipes
