Maurice Lennon is an Irish fiddle player and composer. Born in Limerick City in 1958 he grew up in a very musical family, the son of the late fiddle player Ben Lennon and nephew of composer, fiddle player and pianist Charlie Lennon. [1] [2]
He won the senior All-Ireland fiddle title aged 18. [3]
Professionally, he first came to prominence in the popular 1980's band Stockton's Wing for whom he was a founding member, a fiddle and viola player, and a composer of some of their popular tunes. This includes The Belltable Waltz (with Kieran Hanrahan), The Woody Island, The Masters Daughter, Eastwood, and The Golden Stud. Other well known compositions include: The Road to Garrison, Stone of Destiny, A Tribute to Larry Reynolds and If Ever You Were Mine. [4] [5]
He received Freedom of County Clare with his Stockton's Wing bandmates in 2017. [6]
He was honored as 2011 iBAM Musician of the Year by the Irish American Heritage Centre. [7]
His credentials as a composer were solidified with his 2001 suite Brian Boru The High King of Tara, released by Tara Records. [8] The album was produced by Donal Lunny and includes contributions from Mairtin O'Connor and Mick O'Brien.
In 2013 he released his first solo fiddle album The Little Ones, which contains several of his compositions. He was musical director for the popular dance show Ragus and toured with singer/songwriter Finbar Furey for six years. [9]
He has lived in Chicago for many years and a benefit concert was held for him at Chicago's Irish American Heritage Center in 2012. [10]
In 2023 he received the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Award for composition. [11]