From the age of ten Benny McHugh has been playing the fiddle, learning almost everything he know’s from his dad, Jimmy Mc Hugh. Due to Benny’s mother Anne being involved in dancing as a teacher, adjudicator and organiser, he spent more than twenty years, playing alongside his dad at dancing feisanna. This provided Benny with an amazing musical education, helping him to learn and pick up most of the tunes he know’s and still play today.

Over the years through Benny’s dad tutelage, he was involved in Comhaltas competitions, winning titles in every age group. Benny has travelled and performed all over Ireland, Scotland and England. He has played and taken part in various folk festivals across Europe and also travelled as far as America to play.

Benny spent many years involved in Comhaltas playing, teaching and promoting music all over Scotland as a member of the Four Provinces Ceili Band and as a solo performer and band member of various folk groups through the years. Associating with many Scottish musicians also Benny me a fondness for many Scottish tunes.

Jimmy, Benny’s father had an outstanding collection of music from 78rpm, reel to reel tape recordings. Old manuscripts and music books. Growing up around this and listening to the almost encyclopaedic knowledge his father had, gave Benny a wealth of information and a great love of Irish music. Many nights on his way home from work he would call in to his parents and sit listening and learning from the old recordings and not get home until the small hours.

This love for listening to and playing music has continued and hopefully inspired others. After Jimmy’s passing in 1999, Benny organised a concert to commemorate him and with such a terrific turnout it has become an annual event. It has since became one of the finest weekends of Irish culture in Britain, each year continuing to bring world class musicians, singers ,dancers and lovers of Irish music to Glasgow.

Many of these artists would never have been heard of to Glasgow audiences and as such has brought a new awareness to the culture of Irish music in Scotland. Since my Jimmy’s passing Glasgow lost a few more musicians in quick succession, which left some the music in a lull for a while. Benny has continued to keep the weekly music sessions going and they are seeing a continuing revival recently with musicians coming from both Irish and Scottish fraternity.