A TALENTED Killarney musician, who comes from a family steeped in traditional Irish music, has scooped the prestigious TG4 Gradam Ceoil Young Musician of the Year award.
Bryan O’Leary brought the coveted prize back home to Toureencahill at the weekend but not before stopping off at Browne’s Bar in Castleisland where a rousing session was held to celebrate his great achievement.
Bryan (20) is a grandson the late, great Johnny O’Leary who was awarded a Gradam Saol lifetime achievement award in 2003.
A life-sized statue to the late great Johnny was later erected on Mission Road in Killarney to mark his wonderful contribution to Irish music in the great Sliabh Luachra tradition.
Bryan’s mentor, Nicky McAuliffe, said as well as being a great box player, the young Toureencahill man is also a serious music historian.
“He has a great head for the history of a tune and he’s studying his grandfather’s huge repertoire of tunes and that’s invaluable in itself.
“You won’t find too many young lads with that kind of interest,” he said.
“They’ll all be great players and that kind of thing but this young man is in a different league altogether,” said Nicky.
Bryan’s mother, Maureen, is the legendary Johnny O’Leary’s daughter.
