Peter McAlinden

Whistle

Peter was born in London in 1960 to parents who hailed from County Cork and County Down. Encouraged by a neighbour Kathleen Murray, a native of County Sligo and an avid enthusiast of Irish music, Peter gradually developed a love for traditional Irish music, savouring the magnificent recordings of the great musicians of that era, such as Séamus Tansey, Seán McGuire, Joe Burke, Matt Molloy and Finbarr Dwyer, while on the London scene in the 1970s meeting many inspirational musicians such as Bobby Casey, Tommy McCarthy, Raymond Roland and Jimmy Power. Though he plays other instruments, the piano and flute, Peter has always had a great passion for the humble whistle, in 1979 winning the senior competition in the All Ireland fleadh in Buncrana. Following his retirement from school teaching in 2012 he has been able to be a part of the traditional music scene in London, while becoming involved also in the teaching of music. In 2010 his whistle solo album ‘Happy to meet, sorry to part’, a dedication to the memory of his parents Jim and Kitty McAlinden and his mentor Kathleen Murray, received much positive critical acclaim. He was a member of the popular Saint Colmcille’s Ceili Band which won the senior All Ireland title in 1988 and 1991.

Peter will be hosting the Saturday and Sunday afternoon tutor led sessions at The Crown Hotel, both starting at 3pm. On Saturday he will be playing alongside Sorcha Costello and Noel Hill and on Sunday he will be playing with Mairéad and Deirdre Hurley. He will be leading a Tin Whistle Workshop on Sunday morning and on stage with Seán Gavin and Mick
O’Connor at the Monday Afternoon concert at 2pm.