NOTEWORTHY DEATHS

— Violinist for Ireland’s Chieftains, 76

Martin Fay, a classically trained violinist who helped revive traditional Irish music as a founding member of the Chieftains, died Wednesday in Dublin. He was 76.

The Chieftains formed in 1962 as pacesetters of a new movement to reclaim the pure musical traditions of Ireland from the relatively slick commercial-sounding groups that had come to dominate the folk stage. Fay played haunting fiddle lines and contributed popping rhythms by knocking together a pair of bones, a time honored Celtic instrument. His fiddle is the first sound heard in the Chieftains’ music for Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 film, Barry Lyndon, a performance that helped propel the group to world recognition.

In 1989 the Chieftains were appointed official musical ambassadors for the Republic of Ireland. They have made more than 40 albums and won six Grammys.

Fay was recruited by Sean O Riada, the leading figure in reviving Ireland’s indigenous music, to play in the ensemble he led, Ceoltoiri Cualann.

Paddy Moloney, who played the traditional Uilleann pipes (the Irish bagpipes), and was also a member of Ceoltoiri Cualann, started the Chieftains. The other original members, besides Fay, were Michael Tubridy on wooden flute, Sean Potts on tin whistle and David Fallon on the bodhran, a kind of drum.

Fay stopped touring in 2001 and retired the next year. Moloney is the only original Chieftain still playing with the group.

Born in Dublin on Sept. 19, 1936, Fay is survived by his wife, Grainne, known as Gertie; his son, Fergal; his daughter, Dearbhla Fay; a sister; and a grandson.

Arkansas, Pages 14 on 11/17/2012

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