Mici Cumba O’Sullivan or An Piobaire Cumba  as he was better known was born about 1835 in Castlecove, Co Kerry.  He became partially blind while living in Massachusetts which he had emigrated to early in life and was later to return to Kerry with his wife and daughter.

His fame spread quickly after discovery by a Mr Wayland, President of the Pipers Club. Wayland recorded several of his pieces on ediphone, amongst them the beautiful lament ‘Gol na mban san Ar’ for the Irish who died  fighting the Cromwellians at the battle of Cnoc na nOs near Mallow Co Cork in  1649.

The late piper Willie Clancy was so deeply impressed on hearing O’Sullivans recording that he declared that if he had heard such playing in his youth he would have spent his life trying to make all his music sound like it.

Mici, however, didn’t take so kindly to the latest technology.  On hearing the phonograph reproducing his tunes Mici scowled and delivered upon it several whacks of his cane before he was restrained.  He regarded it as another instance of the Devils handi-work!

Sadly around 1916 Mici Cumba died in Caherciveen workhouse , old, feeble and friendless.

Research Padraig O’Loingsigh