FrançaisPaddy Carty (1929-85) was an Irish flute player from Rafford, Loughrea in County Galway, and like Mike Rafferty was a major exponent of the East Galway style of flute playing.
He played on a Radcliff System instrument, a keyed flute with similar fingering to the simple system flute, which allowed him to play in a traditional style, but also to play in keys not normally used by flute players.
His playing style is flowing and rhythmic, without being too fast or overdone with ornamentation. His musical ability earned him three All-Ireland titles in the 1960s, as well as two more with the Leitrim Ceili Band. He was also a frequent playing partner of Paddy Fahy and a member of the Aughrim Slopes Ceili Band with Fahy and fiddler Paddy Kelly.
He released two albums: “Traditional Irish Music” with Mick O’Connor (banjo) , and Paddy Carty & Conor Tully – “Traditional Music of Ireland”. He continued playing locally until his death in 1985.
