Vinnie Kilduff

Vinnie Kilduff (born 10 August 1960) is an Irish multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, primarily known for his work with U2, The Waterboys, Clannad and Sinéad O'Connor. He plays whistle, uilleann pipes, guitar, mandolin, piano, harmonica, bodhrán and flute. He is described as one of Ireland's best known contemporary whistle players.

Early life

Kilduff was born in Knock, County Mayo, Ireland to parents Sheila and Jim. His mother was from Killorglin County Kerry. His father was a talented fiddle and whistle player. Having mastered the whistle by the age of six, the young Kilduff competed in numerous traditional Irish music competitions known as Fleadh Cheoil. In 1978, he began to study music in the Chatham Row College of Music in Dublin. In 1983, Kilduff rejoined U2 for their promotional tour of the album War. and their 2005 release Live in Concert.

Sinéad O'Connor

Kilduff played mandolin, low whistle and whistle on singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor's DVD and CD set Theology – Live at the Sugar Club, a recording of a live concert performance in The Sugar Club, Dublin on 8 November 2006.

In Tua Nua

In 1982 along with Steve Wickham and others, Kilduff was a founder member of Irish rock band In Tua Nua. The band have been credited with discovering the then fifteen-year-old singer Sinead O'Connor at this time, who temporarily joined them as lead vocalist and co-wrote the song "Take My Hand". They were the first band to sign with U2's Mother record label on which they released their first single "Coming Thru". In 1984 they were signed by Island Records and supported Bob Dylan at his Slane Castle concert in July the same year. They released two further singles before Kilduff left the band in 1986.

The Rocking Chairs

In 1989 Kilduff formed his own rock band The Rocking Chairs, along with Conor Brady, Gerry O'Connor, Derek Kennedy and Peter McKinney. They released one single, "Stuck in the Driving Rain". In 1997 they collaborated with actor Patrick Bergin on two songs at the Gathering, a concert to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine in Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland. In 2010 Bergin released one of the songs "My Angel" as a single, with Kilduff playing tin whistle and as producer.

Patrick Cassidy's Famine Remembrance

In 1996 Kilduff played uilleann pipes as a soloist on composer Patrick Cassidy's Famine Remembrance, a piece commissioned to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine. It was premiered in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral and a CD was released the following year.

Solo career

In 1990 Kilduff released his first solo traditional album The Boys From The Blue Hill. It was nominated by Rolling Stone Magazine for 'Folk Album of the Year'.

Film, TV and documentary

Kilduff has worked on various film and TV productions in both a production and music-writing role. In 1985 he composed music for the film James Joyce's Women starring Fionnula Flanagan. In 2009 he had a guest role in the Irish-American film This is My Father, starring James Caan and Aidan Quinn. He also appears on the soundtrack of the movie.

Selected filmography

Hands (1981,RTÉ series, Film Editor, Music) Patterns (1982, RTÉ series, Film Editor, Music) The Outcasts (1983, Assistant Film Editor, Music) James Joyce's Women (1985, Film Editor, Music) Broken Harvest (1994, Music) The Gathering – a Celebration of Irish Culture and Tradition (1997, featured artist) This is my Father (1999, Guest Role) Learn to Play the Tin Whistle – DVD (2006, Waltons) It Might Get Loud (2009)

Music production

Kilduff has worked with many of the leading names in the Music business including U2, Clannad, Sinead O'Connor, The Waterboys, Steve Cooney, Charlie Lennon, Ciaran Brennan, Arty McGlynn and with Newry rock band The 4 of Us.

Selected discography

U2, October 1981. General Humbert II, 1982. In Tua Nua, Coming Through, 1984. In Tua Nua, Take My Hand, 1984. In Tua Nua, Somebody to Love, 1985. The Waterboys, Fisherman's Blues, 1985. The Rocking Chairs, Stuck in the Driving Rain, 1989. Vinnie Kilduff, The Boys from the Blue Hill, 1990. The Waterboys, The Best of the Waterboys, 1991. Fisherstreet, Out in the Night, 1992. Clannad, Anam, 1992. Brendan O'Regan, A Wind of Change, 1993. Seán Smyth, The Blue Fiddle, 1993. Charlie Lennon, Island Wedding, 1994. Anthony Thistlethwaite, Cartwheels, 1994. Various Artists, Ceol Tig Neachtain, 1995. Clannad, Lore, 1996. Patrick Cassidy, Famine Remembrance, 1997. Hazel O'Connor, 5 in the Morning, 1998. The Waterboys, The Whole of the Moon, 1998. Clannad, Landmarks, 1998. Gerry O'Connor, Myriad, 1999. The 4 of Us, Change, 1999. The 4 of Us, Classified Personal, 1999. Various Artists, This Is My Father soundtrack, 1999. The Waterboys, Too Close to Heaven, 2001. The Waterboys, Fisherman's Blues Part II, 2002. Clannad Live in Concert, 2005. Various Artists, The Aran Lifeboat Collection, 2006. U2, October Delux Remastered Edition, 2008. JHall, The Real World, 2008. Various Artists, Eistigí, 2009. U2, Collector's Box Set 1977–1984, 2009 The Waterboys, Fisherman's Box, 2013.