Potts, founding member of Chieftains, dies at 83

Renowned tin whistle player and founding member of the Chieftains, Sean Potts has died aged 83.

Born in Drimnagh in Dublin in 1930, his father John was an uileann piper and his uncle was the innovative fiddle player Tommy Potts.

He became great friends with fellow whistle player Paddy Moloney in the 1950s and they helped form the Chieftains in 1962.

Potts left the group temporarily in 1968 for a contract with Gael Linn Records but later rejoined. He left for good in 1979.

Although he was primarily a whistle player, he also played the bodhrán and bones.

Potts was an original member of Seán Ó Riada’s group Ceoltoirí Chualann.

After The Chieftains, he did a lot of work for RTÉ Radio and founded the group Bakerswell, with whom he undertook several tours in the United States.

In 2010, Potts received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the TG4 Traditional Music awards.

He also served as chairman on Na Píobairí Uilleann (the Pipers Club).

His son, Sean Óg Potts, is also a well-known uileann pipe player who played in Bakerswell with his father and also in the Donal Lunny Band.