Michael Falsey was born on 27th July, 1929. He lives in Seafield, Quilty. He is one of seven children. He lived on a farm with his father John and his mother Mary and his father also did some fishing. His brothers names were Patrick, John, James and his sisters were Mary, Margaret and Bridget. He attended Quilty National School. His teachers were Thomas O’Connell (Principal) Miss McMahon, Miss Kelly and Miss O’Brien. He walked to school barefoot in the summer and in the winter he used to bring a sod of turf for the fire. At lunch time he used to play with a spinning top which he made out of timber. He made a football out of an old sock so all the children played with it. He enjoyed football and hurling as a past-time.
Michael is married to Margaret and has seven children, Angela, Michael, Bernadette, Kathleen, Margaret, Brid and Patricia. Michael’s father played the flute. He himself started playing when he was nine years of age. He plays the tin whistle, uileann pipes and flute. The first tune he played was the "Wearing of the Green". Michael’s Uileann Pipes – "The real Irish instrument was developed for slow airs and dance tunes. They were made by a famous Dublin pipemaker, Leo Rowsome. The Crowleys from Cork made another part and Willie Clancy also made a part. Michael has been playing with them for years.
Michael played with two Ceili Bands. The Laichtin Naofa Ceili Band also the Kilfenora. He took part in the Fleadhs and won many competitions. He even beat Paddy Moloney of the chieftains in a Fleadh at Dungarvan in 1059. (Intermediate Uileann Pipes).
A very popular local band was the Laichtin Naofa. It started off in 1957 and was founded by Paddy Malone. It comprised of musicians from Quilty and Miltown. The name Lachtin Naofa came from a blessed well on the boundary between Kilmurry Ibrickane and Miltown Parish. It was a neutral name, no parish could claim it.
When the Lachtin Naofa broke up Michael joined the Kilfenora. This was a band founded by Kitty Linnane – Piano, Michael Sexton-Accorian, Gus Tierney-Fiddle, Paddy Mullins-Concert Flute, Tom Eustace-Fiddle and Jim McCormack-Concert Flute and Michael himself played the Pipes and Flute.
He won senior tin whistle at Fleadh Na h-Eireann, Swinford, 1061.Senior Concert flute at Fleadh Na h-Eireann, Thurles, 1964. Senior Uileann Pipes at Fleadh Na h-Eireann, 1965. He played at seisiunswith local musicians such as Paddy Galvin, J.C. Talty, Brid Donoghue and J.P. Downes. Joe cunneen and John Fennel were also famous tin whistle players in the area. His father had a big influence on him as a musician also Johnny Doran the piper. He played also with Bobby Casey and grew up with him. He was born a few miles from Quilty. They played at the country house dances which were very common in those days. They would dance sets and play cards all night. Willie Clancy was also a very goods musician. He cycled out from Miltown Malbay to Sullivan’s Forge on the Kilrush Road and got his first lesson from a travelling piper Johnny Doran. Willie then gave Michael his first lesson. They often met afterwards at the Feis in Miltown. It was called Feis Lachtin Naofa or the Dunsallagh Feis. They were held in the football field in Miltown. Michael competed in the flute section and Willie in the violin. Paddy Donohoe from Bodyke played the pipes. When the Fleadh Ceoil started in Miltown in 1957 the Feis ended. Michael sings and have recorded some songs such as "The Wreck of the Leon" and the "Parish of Kilmurry Ibrickane". He likes seán nós singing also ballad songs.
