Three generations of violinists take a bow as Cork Youth Orchestra turns 60

Cork butcher Simon O’Flynn is one of three generations of his family who have played with orchestras in his native city, writes Roz Crowley.

Ireland's oldest youth orchestra celebrates its 60th birthday this year. Adding hugely to Cork’s music culture and nurturing a huge amount of local talent from an early age, Cork Youth Orchestra has made an invaluable contribution to the city.

Viola player Simon O’Flynn is the second generation of O’Flynn musicians involved in orchestras in Cork, and his daughter makes it the third. His mother played cello and packed him off to learn violin from Miss Dorothy Foley at the age of six.

“I didn’t enjoy the lessons or practising, but I seemed to be able to do it.” From an early age he was part of the School of Music orchestra. That was 70 years ago (he is now 77) . “I liked being part of an orchestra’s bigger sound, keeping in the background, and I enjoyed the social side.”

First playing with Cork Youth Orchestra, at the age of 11 due to a shortage of players, Simon changed instruments to viola, and then at the age of 16 got involved in the Cork Symphony Orchestra. He ended up in four other Cork-based orchestras — School of Music Symphony Orchestra, Cork Youth Orchestra, Declan Townsend’s String Orchestra and the school orchestra at Coláiste Chríost Rí. He was kept busy, and says it may have kept him out of trouble in his teenage years, and perhaps still does.

Learning viola from Peter Sermon, who had played with the London Philharmonic orchestra, led Simon into a string quartet specialising in chamber music which he still plays. These days musicians visiting Cork often invite him to join them. Reading music, he has no difficulty following a score.

“I don’t have any talent — that is a rare commodity — but what I have is tenacity. I won’t let go. You have to be dull to be tenacious.”

The O’Flynns have made a considerable contribution to the cultural life of Cork. Simon’s mother was cellist Sheila Bresnan (who married master butcher John O’Flynn of Marlborough Street, Cork) and her two sisters Kitty and Cissy played violin. Along with the likes of Professor Aloys Fleischmann, all three were founder members of the Cork Symphony Orchestra in 1934. Cissy’s daughter Marie Howell played violin, and Simon’s uncle Dónal O’Flynn’s daughter Frances Horgan was leader of the Cork Youth and Cork Symphony orchestras. Her son Breffni plays French horn.

Simon’s daughter Sarah is the third generation O’Flynn to have been part of both the Cork Youth Orchestra and Cork Symphony Orchestra, and was a member of the prestigious National Youth orchestra.

She is busy with children now, but plans to return to performing later. The two have often played together.

And with 70 years of playing under his chin, what are his secrets to pass on to her? He rates good hearing and eyesight and no arthritis as essential. He says he doesn’t have a particularly good ear and sees himself as having a trade.

Getting ready for tonights Cork Youth Orchestra 60th anniversary concert. Ex CYO members sounding great - in particular the 20 strong Viola section 😉 @CYOCork #CYO #Cork #corkcityhall pic.twitter.com/GED2K5LonZ

— Mossy B (@MossyB_tweets) April 28, 2018

“The more you do it, the better you get. I have to work hard to get any reasonable sound [he does scales and arpeggios most days], and you need friends who are healthy and willing to play with you.”

Lined with rich wood, skilfully hewn violins, violas and cellos, his music room is a retreat after a day cutting hunks of meat for customers (he had to replace his sick father in the year of his Leaving Cert).

Simon practices in the kitchen at home, as he reckons the hard surfaces are better for performance precision. Amongst those with good longevity that he still plays with are violinists Kevin Goggin and Declan Townsend and more recently Áine Ní Shé, Carol O’Connor, Eithne Willis and Frank Garvey.

Simon says he doesn’t get nervous before a performance and has never wanted to be a soloist.

“I’m inhibited. I don’t mind that, as I’m self-critical, always hoping for improvement.”

Customers bring cakes to him in the butcher shop. “They go to concerts and recognise me and talk about the performance.”

Cake, meat, music — a recipe for success?