Julia Clifford

Julia Clifford (June 19, 1914 – June 18, 1997) was a fiddler and Irish traditional musician.

Julia Murphy was born at Lisheen, Gneeveguilla, County Kerry, part of an area in west Munster known as Sliabh Luachra one of eight children. Her father Bill played flute, fife, and fiddle and had a fife and drum band. Both she and her brother Denis Murphy, also a noted musician, were taught the fiddle by noted fiddler from the same area, Padraig O'Keeffe.

Julia moved to Scotland and worked as a maid and in 1941 married accordion player John Clifford. She won the All-Ireland fiddle championship at Mullingar in 1963.

Clifford, her brother, O'Keefe, and others from the Sliabh Luachra area are regarded as a significant influence on Irish traditional music and have given rise to the term Sliabh Luachra style.

Discography

• Kerry Fiddles. Padraig O'Keefe (fiddle), Denis Murphy (fiddle), Julia Clifford (fiddle). Topic TSCD 309, 1994. Reissue of Topic 12T309, 1977. Recorded by Seamus Ennis 9 Sept. 1952 in Castleisland, Co. Kerry.
• Paddy in the Smoke. Martin Byrnes (fiddle), Danny Meehan (fiddle), Bobby Casey (fiddle), Tony McMahon (accordion), Andy Boyle (fiddle), Jimmy Power (fiddle), Jimmy Dunleavy (fiddle), Sean O'Shea (fiddle), Con Curtin (fiddle), Denis McMahon (fiddle), Julia Clifford (fiddle), Tommy Maguire (accordion), Father O'Keeffe (mandolin), Lucy Farr (fiddle), Edmond Murphy (fiddle), with Reg Hall (piano), John McLaughlin (spoons). Topic TSCD 603, 1997. "Re-mastered edition" of Topic 12T176, 1968, with "additional material and new notes." Some material from original LP is missing here. Notes to reissue by Reg Hall.
• The Star above the Garter. Fiddle music from Kerry, played by Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford. Denis Murphy (fiddle), Julia Clifford (fiddle). Claddagh CC5CD, 1969. Recorded in Dublin.
• The Humours of Lisheen, Julia and John Clifford, Topic (LP). Julia Clifford, 1914–97
• Music from Sliabh Luachra. Denis Murphy (fiddle), Julia Clifford (fiddle), Pádraig O'Keeffe (fiddle), Andy McGann (fiddle), Johnny O'Leary (button accordion) & Séamus Ennis (uilleann pipes)(RTÉ 183 CD - 1995)
• Ceol as Sliabh Luachra. Julia Clifford (fiddle), Billy Clifford (flute), with Manus Lunny - (Gael Linn - CEF 092 - 1982)
• The Star of Munster Trio. Julia Clifford (fiddle), John Clifford (accordion), Billy Clifford (flute) - (Topic - 12TS310 - 1977)

From The Voice of the People series

• It was mighty - The Early Days of Irish Music in London (Topic Records - TSCD679T)
• It was great altogether - The Continuing Tradition of Irish Music in London (Topic Records - TSCD680T)

External links

• RamblingHouse: Julia Clifford, 1914-97
• MadForTrad Ltd.: The Star above the Garter - Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford (Benchmark recording of Sliabh Luachra fiddle music from 1969 by Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford)