Can Anyone Play The Fiddle? Ireland 1966

The Dunne family are traditional musicians of great renown, however it is the violin owned by 75 year old Bernie Dunne from Cork that makes them unique.

‘Newsbeat’ reporter Bill O’Herlihy catches up with Bernie Dunne in County Clare to learn more about his unusual fiddle. While it is no Stradivarius, Bernie’s violin has already been featured in an important book on European musical instruments.

Bernie made his rectangular fiddle from pieces of an orange box which he nailed together. Once he was satisfied with how the violin sounded, he glued the pieces into place. He has been playing his unique fiddle for almost seven years and prefers it to an ordinary fiddle. He would not swap it for anything and has even turned down an offer of five pounds for the instrument.

Bill O’Herlihy wonders if it is difficult to earn a living as a travelling musical playing the violin around the towns and cities of Ireland to which Bernie replies

Well I didn’t die of the hunger so far and I’m at it all of me lifetime.

Bernie Dunne demonstrates how anyone can play his fiddle by encouraging Bill O’Herlihy to hold the bow. He then plays a tune by moving the fiddle up and down the bow.

A ‘Newsbeat’ report broadcast on 5 January 1966. The reporter is Bill O’Herlihy.

[LeakyBellows]

I've seen lots of talented people play the fiddle with the bow, but I've never seen someone play the bow with a fiddle. I love it.

[mike]

That ending was totally unexpected! I bet the old fella made a few shillings, in the pub, betting that “anyone can play the violin”!

[andrewkoastephens]

That last scene was brilliant. And now we see why he hasn’t gone hungry. Shoot, I’d have given him money as soon as I slowed laughing long enough to reach into my pocket.

[brendanloftus]

Can we just appreciate this guy played a violin/fiddle like a BOW with Irish Washerwoman I’m actually blown away

[IansOddInterests]

Made it out of a bit of an orange box...omg..these men are fabulous

[IIVVBlues]

I once made a fiddle from a turtle shell, but it did not play loudly enough to be of use. I made a cigar box guitar (4 strings) about twenty years ago that plays just fine. After I retired, I started making fretless gourd banjos as a hobby. I made and sold over 200 of them over the last 10 years. When you're busking, a home made instrument always draws a bigger crowd.
It was grand to see an older gentleman doing this while I was still in high school. I hope the tradition never dies.

[Discover-Ireland]

Omg that was just class. It really brings home the hard life back then...if you couldn’t afford it you improvised

[rvdb]

In my view, as a Belgian, the Irish are very musical.
An interview like this is a rarity in today's media.
The interviewer treated the interviewee with all respect and even with a touch of humor
The old man's smile was priceless.
What a contrast to the interviews you see today.

[fatimaalaa]

I'll be honest I didn't understand a single word he said after 1:22 but he seemed passionate

Edit: for those too lazy to read the replies: he said that his old violin broke but he couldn't afford a new one so he made the one in the vid out of an orange box & he was offered a lot of money for it but he wouldn't sell it

[tearitloosetearitloose]

"The violin I had fell asunder"... Thank God for Orange-box makers..

[desastermaster]

I love this old school people with their honest facest, usually minding their own buiseness....And suddenly they start to play and leave you stunned....!

[Jesse__H]

That last scene made me laugh out loud 😂
Good stuff.

[mljm]

That ending was absolutely unexpected and incredible.

[kolosmenus]

Someone needs to send this to TwoSetViolin

[harryfurphy]

I love to see auld Irish fellas playing the fiddle. makes me proud to be an Irish man and a fiddler myself.

[norawheeler]

OMG he can play the song by having the guy hold the bow and just moving the violin!! Wowee.

[stabtherasher]

We are Irish people its hard 2 sit still listening to this proper toe tapper

[royksk]

He’s doing very well for a man of 37 years - but it’s been a hard life.

[eagle]

My Dad brought his accordian over from Galway many yrs ago when he was 19. He hooked up with another Irishman, fiddle player named Larry O' Keefe and they played on Long Island at many Irish dances in the 50'-60's
Neither one read music but boy they could play! I taught myself guitar as I grew but couldn't keep up them on the jigs and reels. They left me in their dust. Miss em both but the music will not be forgotten.

[mossy]

I had a granduncle that was a fiddler, used to play in The Black Shop pub in Castlecove, Caherdaniel in Kerry years ago. He was an old man when I was a kid and I'm nearly 50 now.