Packie Russell

Patrick "Pakie" or "Packie" Russell (1920 in Doonagore, Doolin – 4 September 1977) was a stonecutter and a well known Irish traditional concertina player and storyteller out of Doolin, County Clare, Ireland. He was one of the three Russell brothers to earn fame as musician, together with his brothers Micho and Gussie.

Packie learned to play music on a very young age, learning most of his skills from his mother and from his neighbour Patrick Flanagan, both gifted concertina players.

Packie and his brothers first got attention outside Doolin due to the work of the Irish Folklore Commission. In the late 1930s Seamus O' Duillearga was active in County Clare and recorded stories and music, including music of the Russell brothers. Later recordings by others also brought them a wider public.

‘I am only an ignorant countryman living on the edge of the Cliffs of Moher, in the county of Clare, on the western coast of Ireland.’ Keepers of Tradition Concertina players of County Clare