For most, the name Matt Cunningham is synonymous with set and céilí dancing but for many others he is, through his work as a music teacher, responsible for passing the music on to the next generation in the hinterland of the county Galway town where he resides.

Speaking from his farm on the outskirts of Headford, Matt explains how it all began: “I started playing the accordion when I was seven and the fiddle, tin whistle and banjo came next during my early teens. During this time I played with various bands while I still attended Presentation College Headford [secondary school]. Then in 1965 a new band was formed in Tuam called the Western Céilí Band and I was asked to join it, which I gladly did, and I stayed with that band for seven years.”

Matt travelled the country with this band and remembers a highlight being asked to perform for the first time on Radio Éireann. But Matt also had aspirations to front his own group and in 1972 this became a reality. His popularity as a musician and singer meant that soon after he formed his own band he left a nine-to-five job in Galway city to go into the music business full time. 41 years later, Matt is still busy performing and recording, all the while enjoying every minute of it.

Matt is also well known for his moving renditions of some of Ireland’s greatest airs on whistle. During the 1970s and ’80s, Matt did quite a bit of cabaret and concert work and it is something he always enjoyed immensely: “I was a member of the Corrib Folk Group for many years so it was pretty hectic being part of that and taking care of the engagements I had with my own band but I still do the odd concert and cabaret gig and my interest stemmed from that period in my career. I have to say I love it.”

Matt has also become known internationally for his recordings and explained when he first stepped into the recording studio: “I recorded my first album in 1984 and then, in 1987, because set and céilí dancing was becoming so popular, I had many requests to record music specifically for dancers and dance teachers so that dancers would for the first time have music of the correct length and tempo.”

Matt never envisaged when undertaking the first of these recordings that they would prove so popular with the dancers, teachers and listeners and would be used all over the world to teach these dances. Matt continues to satisfy the demand for such recordings and this year recorded Volume 21 in this Dance Music of Ireland series.

When asked what the highlights of his career to date were, Matt replies: “Music has been great to me and still takes me to many places in the world. I am still doing my own annual tours of England and America.

“It is hard work but very rewarding and of course with my family involved it makes it easier and even more satisfying. I must say that playing for Pope John Paul II in Knock in 1979 always springs to my mind, it was special.

“Playing on my 1ast cruise in the mid-’80s is another great memory as cruises at that time were almost unheard of.

“Having said that, I started teaching music 30 years ago and this is what takes up most of my time now and as time moves on watching the next generation of musicians who I taught, entertaining people on stage or television makes me feel great. In fact, nothing beats watching a child play their first tune for their parents or grandparents. It’s something money can’t buy.”

Away from his music, Matt also spends time farming and cites the fact that he owns a farm as a great diversion from his musical endeavours and is essentially “a breath of fresh air”.

An air from Matt on any given day is in fact a moment to behold.

Matt’s CDs and DVDs can be purchased in all good music stores and online at his website at www.matt

cunninghamband.com