Lionel O'Keefe

Lionel O'Keefe (1950-), Toowoomba, Qld, a fiddler, provided details of some of the Australian tunes in this archive.

The National Library of Australia holds aural recordings of interviews conducted with Lionel O'Keefe. He was interviewed by:

• Kev Carmody in December 2003, [1]. "Lionel O'Keefe recalls his forebearers; grandmother's heritage; life in Halifax, Qld (1950s); South Sea Islander history; parents; family's move to the Mt Isa mines and his father's occupation; community life and schooling in Mt Isa (1950s-1960s); family's move to Mary Kathleen Mine; boarding school in Cloncurry, Qld; working conditions at Mary Kathleen uranium mine; health effects of working at the mines; father's death; Mt. Isa strike; Australia's political and economic climate (1960s); first exposure to Celtic music; first musical instrument; childhood games; family's move to Brisbane, Qld.; his move to Townsville, Qld; early training in the Post Master General Dept. (PMG); underground mine experiences; recollections of coastal living compared to Mt. Isa; his brother played in a Mt Isa band called The Swampadders.
  O'Keefe recalls the early musical influences on his career; regular performers at the Folk Centre (Brisbane, Qld.); 1972 Festival; starting to play fiddle (1975); Wayfarers (musical group) and having to learn bass on the spot; performing with the band for TV with Hilton Tippson; Vietnam War and its divisive effect on the folk scene; political climate of the Bjelke-Petersen Government in Queensland (1968-1987); touring Australia with the Mulga Bill Band; developing an interest in the fiddle and Irish music; overseas folk artists touring (1970s); touring with the Larrikins (musical group); playing for a fundraiser for the IRA; move to Toowoomba, Qld and his university degree; The League of Rights in Toowoomba; censorship and conservatism in Toowoomba; folk musicians in Toowoomba; Australian boxing scene (1940s-1960s)

• Kev Carmody in March 2004, [2]

• Chris Sullivan in April 1989, [3], "Isabelle Aldiss, Warren 'the Sheik' Aldiss, Lionel O'Keefe and Cathy O'Keefe recorded by Lionel O'Keefe "

• Chris Sullivan in October 1992, [4],

Greg O'Leary and John Meredith.

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