This article relies on references to primary sources. Please add references to secondary or tertiary sources. (March 2008)
Gerry "Fiddle" O'Connor (born in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland) is a traditional Irish fiddle player. His son is Irish fiddler and producer Dónal O'Connor.
His family has played fiddle for at least four generations and Gerry learned his music from his mother, Rose O'Connor, and also from hand-written manuscripts passed down through the family.
He later came under the influence of John Joe Gardiner, the great Sligo fiddle player, who lived in Dundalk for many years. Gerry's performances concentrate on long forgotten tunes from his home area in the North East of Ireland, many of which were recorded on his 2004 album, Journeyman.
In addition to his solo performances and recordings, O'Connor is a founding member of two bands: Skylark (who have recorded four albums) and La Lúgh (whose album Brighid's Kiss was voted album of the year in 1996 by readers of Irish Music Magazine).
Gerry is also an established fiddle repairer and he concentrates on this work when he is not touring. He now lectures in traditional Irish music at the Dundalk Institute of Technology and is regarded as one of the most disciplined and respected teachers within the faculty. He has sometimes been confused with Dubliners' banjo player Gerry O'Connor, and hence adopted the name Gerry "Fiddle" O'Connor.
