MacMahon, Tony

Traditional Irish musician, broadcaster and producer.

Tony MacMahon (1939 - 2021) was born in Ennis County Clare, an area steeped in traditional Irish music and dance.

Growing up in County Clare, Tony was surrounded by music and was inspired by accordion player Joe Cooley as well as other musicians including piper Willie Clancy, fiddle player Bobby Casey, fiddle player Tommy Potts and uilleann piper Felix Doran among others.

It was against this backdrop that he would go on to become one of the most respected and influential Irish button accordion players.

Tony MacMahon also had a long career at RTÉ from 1969 to 1998. He worked in television and radio presenting and producing programmes such as Glór, Ag Déanamh Ceoil, A Job of Journeywork, Aisling Gheal, L'Irlande, C'est Nous, The Blackbird and the Bell, The Pure Drop, Come West Along the Road and The Green Linnet. The Green Linnet was a six-part series that followed Tony MacMahon and Barney McKenna as they busked their way around Europe.

Through his work in broadcasting, Tony MacMahon set out to promote traditional Irish music and musicians.