Jim McGill

[Ptarmigan]

Jim McGill of Ballinlea



Jim McGill was born in the townland of Ballinlea, which lies half way between Ballycastle and Bushmills, in the Causeway Coast region of north Antrim. He was a fine country Fiddler, and realising that no one was passing on the skills of Traditional Music to the younger generation locally, he decided to set about the task himself. For many years he taught kids from all around Ballinlea, Ballintoy & Ballycastle, visiting them in their own homes and passing on the music he loved so much, in order that others would still be playing, when he was not around to Fiddle for the local Ceili, concert or Pub Session.



Sadly, Jim is no longer with us, but many of the kids Jim taught still play, and all are the richer for having had the the privilage of his tutoring, and the pleasure of his company. Because of all his great work with the local youngsters, I had no hesitation in naming my Music School in his honour.

James 'Jim' McGill was born in 1920 in the townland of Ballinlea near Ballycastle on the North Coast of Northern Ireland. He attended Ballinlea Public Elementary School just a few hundred yards from where he was born.

Jim McGill