Fintan O'Carroll

Fintan O’Carroll was born on 31st July 1922 in Wexford, and spent most of his life in Waterford. On completion of his secondary school studies Fintan took up a position as a Clerk in C.I.E., the national railway.

He won first prize in a traditional music competition, aged 12, playing violin, and went on to study violin at home, taking lessons as and when the opportunity arose. While working at C.I.E. Fintan undertook a correspondence course in Music from Trinity College, Dublin. His heart was in music, and he left C.I.E. in 1967 after 27 years service, whereupon he completed his degree at Trinity to gain his B.Mus. along with the Prout Prize for the most outstanding student of the year. All the time Fintan had taken a keen interest in composition, particularly sacred music. Fintan became a fulltime teacher at the Presentation Convent Secondary School in Waterford, a job which payed about half the salary in C.I.E. at the time. He supplemented his income by taking 52 private pupils, conducting 2 brass bands, and led the orchestra in every musical show that offered.

Some of the many musical organizations that owe a debt of musical gratitude to Fintan, whether it be as leader, violinist, conductor, organist, composer, or founder include Waterford Orchestral Players; Waterford Festival of Light Opera Orchestra; St Saviours Church, Bridge Street; the Franciscan Friary; the Church of SS Josephs and Benildus; St Patrick’s; Waterford Cathedral; St Patrick’s Brass Band; HFC Brass Band, New Ross; Mount Sion Silver Band. It is particularly with the brass bands that we are interested and it is fair to say that Fintan brought a sense of musicality and musicianship to these bands which helped greatly in the development of their players and the achievement of competition successes at all levels. Many musicians have commented later in their life that it was the love of music instilled in them by Fintan that carried them through their own musical lives.

One of the proudest moments of Fintan’s musical career must have been when his Mass of the Immaculate Conception was chosen for the occasion of the visit of Pope John Paul II to Limerick in 1979. He took part in the Offertory Procession on this momentous occasion.

Fintan died in July 1981 and was survived by his wife Josephine, a fine contralto voice, and whom he credits with much of his own success. They had six children: Fiona, Deirdre, Fergus, Declan, Kevin, Aoileann, and Cian, many of which play a very active role in the musical life of Waterford and beyond.

--www.mountsionsilverband.org/history/