Mick O'Connor & Paragon Serial No 2011 & Serial No 1286

Mick inherited a love of Irish music from his parents who came from County Kerry & Roscommon in Ireland.
"The Dubliners" banjo player, Barry McKenna, inspired Mick to learn the Banjo in 1967. He learned tunes from the great London Irish musicians, including John Bowe, Bobby Casey, Tommy McCarthy, and Roger Sherlock, and is particularly influenced by Clare, Galway and Kerry styles of playing. Mick won the all-Ireland tenor banjo championship in 1971 and two all-Ireland ceili band medals in 1986 and 1987 as a member of "Thatch Ceili Band". He toured the USA & Ireland in 1975 and the UK in 1976 with Jo Burke, Paddy Glakin on a tour organised by "Comhaltas Ceoltori Eirean" the Irish Traditional Music Association.

Mick has played in countless concerts and ceili's over the years, and toured in the U.S.A, Canada, South Africa, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Ireland and elsewhere. He has recorded with some of the greats of Irish music including Tommy Makem, Kevin Burke, Brendon Shine, Donal Lunny and Noel Murphy. In 1992 Mick backed Elvis Costello on stage and he performed with Ronnie Drew of "The Dubliners" in 1998. Mick was delighted to be invited to meet Irish President Mary McAleese at a special reception for traditional Irish musicians at her official residence, Áras an Uachtaráin, in Phoenix Park, Dublin on 21st April 2004.

Mick O'Connor has taught banjo and mandolin in London for the last 14 years and would welcome enquiries from prospective pupils. 020-8450-750. Mick has just returned (2009) back from a jaunt around Australia where he was off site seeing and playing a few sessions as he went. Taking in Hong Kong on the way home.

Mick has a CD out called Doorways & Windowsills so you can contact him on how to purchase.