Paddy Keenan, born on January 30, 1950, in Trim, County Meath, Ireland, is an Irish musician known for his mastery of the Uilleann pipes. He began playing the tin whistle at age six and later took up the Uilleann pipes under the guidance of his father, John Keenan. In 1975, Keenan gained prominence as a member of The Bothy Band, contributing to their self-titled debut album The Bothy Band. During this time, he also released his first solo album, Paddy Keenan (1975), and collaborated with violinist Paddy Glackin on Doublin (1978). Keenan continued his solo work after The Bothy Band disbanded, releasing Poirt an Phíobaire in 1983. After moving to the United States in the 1990s, Keenan resumed his musical career with Na Keen Affair (1997) and collaborated with guitarist Tommy O'Sullivan on The Long Grazing Acre (2003). In 2002, he was named Traditional Musician of the Year by Irish television TG4.
