Tom Ennis uilleann

Lives of the Pipers Home

Tom Ennis

performer, businessman; commercial recordings exist

b. Omaha, Nebraska Dec. 21, 1888
d. Jonesville, Michigan Aug. 11, 1931


Tom Ennis plays John H. Marron's pipes as Marron listens, circa 1911. Barry O'Neill first suggested this is Marron. Photos of Marron show him playing this set. From Jeanne Fenimore, a descendant of Tom Ennis' father John.


From the Tom Busby collection of photographs at Na Píobairí Uilleann.
Earliest appearance of this photo I have found is from an ad in the NY Advocate Aug. 14, 1920. The NPU version was cut from a poster advertising a dance for the Glenamaddy Men's Association in Manhattan, Nov. 12, 1921.

Other photos of Ennis are with the biographies of John Ennis and Edward Harrison.


Tom Ennis was one of the last men to attempt to earn his living as a piper in the first half of the twentieth century. He was well known and lived recently enough that unverifiable assertions about his life survived in oral tradition: That he was born in Omaha because his father was working for the railroad at the time. That he was injured in a poison gas attack in World War I. That he married a "foreigner," that is, someone not in the Irish-American community, who disappeared immediately after he died, leaving creditors in the lurch.

Ennis spent most of his working time in show business, willingly in the public eye. For all that, much is unknown about his personality and the course of his life.

Although born in Omaha, his family had moved to Chicago by the time he was four years old. His father John Ennis, himself a piper, was prominent in Irish music circles in Chicago, and Tom was exposed to Irish music from the very beginning. The 1900 US Census shows Tom as having three brothers and a sister, he being the third oldest. The father seems to have singled out Tom as the most musically talented, or interested, of his children. John Ennis, for many years a Chicago policeman, had a literary bent. An article about "Irish Pipes and Pipers," by "Thomas Ennis" and published in An Gaodal (The Gael) magazine in 1902, bears the father's flowery and opinionated style. Tom would have been about 13 at the time. In fact, the article mentions "Tom Ennis" and two others as "mere boys, but who play the good old music on the violin...."

Father and son, both holding pipes, are in a group photograph of the "Irish Music Club, Chicago." Tom sits among the elite of the Irish musicians of Chicago: Barney Delaney, John McFadden, Edward Cronin, Francis O'Neill, etc. The club was officially formed in 1902 but the photo may have been taken earlier. Tom Ennis looks younger than 13.

The earliest newspaper references to Tom Ennis as piper are for Irish Music Club events, the first a festival "introductory program" from October 1906. The 1910 US Census lists his occupation as "Teller Bank."

Thousands attended the Irish Feis at Gaelic Park in Chicago, July 28, 1912. There were contests for instrumental music and Ennis competed in the Irish Pipes category. Adam Tobin won first prize, a gold medal, and Thomas Ennis won second prize, a silver medal. In his book Irish Minstrels and Musicians (1913) Francis O'Neill wrote of Tobin, "His playing for the competing dancers at the Gaelic Feis at Chicago in 1912 for several hours, and subsequently winning first prize in the piping contest against a young man of great pretentions, may be regarded as a flattering evidence of his abilities."

O'Neill was not keen on Tom Ennis; eight years later in a letter to Henry Mercer he wrote "Tom Ennis is a Chicago boy now in Vaudeville. His pipe playing is not above fair." The 1913 comment about "great pretentions" may have referred to music, or a general approach to life, or even to Ennis' political aspirations. He ran for alderman of Chicago's Second Ward as a Democrat. The election was April 1, 1912 and he was handily defeated by Republican George F. Harding.

In 1915-16 he was living in the San Francisco area and performing at Irish-related concerts and dances. He claimed to have played at the Irish Village, an attraction of San Francisco's Panama-Pacific International Exposition, a world's fair. The exposition ran from February 20 to December 4, 1915. Because of financial difficulties the Irish Village closed early, Aug. 31.

By December 1916 he was touring with singer Larry Reilly and his "Gaelic company" in Northeast US. His transition from bank teller to vaudevillian was complete. He worked with Reilly on and off through 1924.

In April 1917 he recorded the first of many 78 rpm records, these first for Victor Records. If advertising is any guide, a record with a medley of reels on one side and hornpipes on the other was released in November of that year.

United States involvement in World War I was on the horizon. Ennis filled out a military draft registration card in May 1917 with home address Chicago. He described himself as an actor and with mother and father dependent on him for support. "Tall, medium or short? Tall Slender, medium or Stout? Medium Color of eyes? Brn Color of hair? D. Brn Bald? No"

Ennis enlisted in the US Army Nov. 10, 1917. There are announcements of entertainments in New York City on March 16 and 17, 1918 at which Ennis was to play. He was no doubt granted leave to play at these events. In any case he was shipped to France March 30. He served in the Second Infantry Division, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Second Battalion, Engineers, Company "F", as a "Wagoner." Sometimes Wagoners drove trucks or ambulances, but most Wagoners managed a wagon and its team of mules, transporting supplies.

There is no evidence that Ennis was wounded or became sick in the Army. Such records of his military service that exist suggest otherwise. Ennis was in France and Germany from April 1918 until June 1919 and returned to the US with the rest of the Company. Certainly he was not "invalided home" as one writer has suggested. He was listed in the rosters for Company "F" until the Company was demobilized in the US June 20, 1919. Ennis was discharged in Rockville, Illinois, June 24.

By September 1919 he was back touring with Larry Reilly and company. Ennis toured with Reilly during the 1919-20 season; work with Reilly finished by June or July. Based on existing evidence, this was the last time Ennis endured the intense, often punishing touring life of a vaudevillian. In the future he would sometimes travel to engagements, but was never away from home for weeks at a time.

By the way, for the 1916-17 through 1920-21 seasons Reilly's troupe included Grace Allen, later to become well known for her work with George Burns in the comedy act Burns and Allen.

Ennis moved to New York City and started a music store at 15 Columbus Avenue, Manhattan. The store was not far from Columbus Circle. At the time the area near the circle was a working class neighborhood with many Irish Americans. The first mention of the store was an advertisement, August, 1920. The ad has the earliest known appearance of a photograph of Ennis in knee breeches and buckled shoes, smiling and playing the pipes. The name of the store was "Tom Ennis" and claimed "a complete stock of Phonographs, Records, Musical Instruments, Kodaks, etc. Accordeons, Chanters, Flutes, Harmonicas, Pianos, Player Rolls, Reeds, Violins. ... Exclusive selection of Irish Airs, Jigs, Reels, etc. on Victor, Pathe, Emerson and Columbia Records. ... Come In - Pleased to Demonstrate"

Ennis was involved with the store into 1923. An ad from May 1923 says the store was "Now Under the Management of TOMMY HILL," a well-known Irish step dancer.

He immediately became a part of the music scene in New York, playing for dances, entertainments, associating with other musicians. 1920-25 was a busy time in his life. Ennis recorded more records, appeared on radio, was active in organizing events. His father came to live with him, probably before 1921.

During this time he also had some role in recording and distributing phonograph records for others. A 78rpm record exists of Thomas O'Kelly, baritone, singing "The Foggy Dew," issued on the Metro label in the "early 1920s." On the record label is printed "This record made expressly for Tom Ennis-New York." Perhaps it was sold through his store. Ron Kavana says that Ennis "marketed his own records on his own Shannon label. [Fiddler] Michael Coleman's first record The Frost is All Over/Reidy Johnson's Reel (Shannon 2503 - early 1921) was financed by the Ennis family and marketed through Tom's store." Kavana cites no source for this information. As far as I can tell, the Coleman record is the only known example of the Shannon label.

In 1921 John Ennis wrote well-known verse describing a meeting of Irish musicians in New York City, their group known sometimes as "The Craft" and sometimes as "The Irish Pipers' Club." The most accomplished local musicians were there, among them piper Michael Carney and fiddle player James Morrison. Of his son John Ennis wrote:

In 1923, probably at the same time he quit management of the music store, Tom Ennis became proprietor of a dance hall at 446 West 54th Street. At first he called it "Ennis' Pleasant Hour Hall," later "Tom Ennis' Celtic Hall." This was the same location as "Celtic Hall," "built," according to Francis O'Neill, by piper Patrick Fitzpatrick in 1892.

On July 26, 1924 four men walked in the hall and and took $150 from the cash register. The men took off in a taxi. Ennis rushed out, calling for help. Police detective Harry Hoffman happened to be on the sidewalk in front of the hall, and saw the identification number of the cab. The cab was located and three men arrested at a restaurant not far away. This incident made the New York Times. Newspaper accounts of the event referred to the dance hall as a "saloon." Prohibition was in effect at this time. The sale of alcoholic drink was not legal but it was still widely available.

Ennis managed Celtic Hall until it was "destroyed by fire" January 25, 1925.

There are few references to Ennis between 1925 and 1930. In 1928 he may have been General Sales Manager for a company which sold radios. There is one ad in February 1929 for the "New Celtic Hall," 105th Street, in which Ennis, Famous Irish Piper, is listed as manager. Ennis recorded at least four more sides for Victor in 1928 and four for Columbia in 1929.

He married Coral French (1883-1957) in Manhattan June 11, 1928. The 1930 US Census shows Tom, Coral and Tom's father John living in the New York City Borough of Queens. Tom, head of household, owns the home, valued at $10,000. His occupation is "Irish Bag Pipes Musician."

It is likely that later in 1930 the three moved to Chicago. John Ennis died in Chicago on Sep. 13, 1930.

Not many references have been found about Tom Ennis' activities in Chicago. It is clear that he made appearances on the radio. He was later credited as one of the organizers of the long-lived "Irish Hour" show, Sunday nights on station WCFL. The show began in June 1930 and he is first named as a participant for the March 15, 1931 program. Some in a younger generation of musicians would recall seeing Ennis, playing with him or spending time with him. Fiddle player James Neary recalled playing in a session only one time with Ennis. His playing was "awfully fast, but clean". Chicago piper Edward Mullaney said "that Tom Ennis was very friendly to pipers, very helpful."

In August 1931 Ennis and his wife were driving from Chicago to Detroit. They stopped for the night at a tourist camp in Jonesville, Michigan. Ennis died in his sleep. Death was due to heart disease; the death certificate says "Aortic Incompetency." He was 41 years old.

Ennis is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Chicago, near his mother and father. As of this writing the graves are unmarked, with no monument or stone.

In 1930 Ennis had asked Chicago pipemaker Patrick Hennelly to make him a set of pipes. They were received in 1931 but not paid for. Hennelly told Lawrence McCullough that Coral "disappeared" immediately after Tom was buried and took the pipes with her. He was never paid.

And what of his music? Ennis was recorded many times and at least 45 sides were released as 78 records. Some have been re-released as CDs, or are available via the Internet. One can listen and judge. His piping was generally good but not at the highest level. Some recordings seem rushed, many have intonation problems. Perhaps the best are some of those with fiddler James Morrison, the "Limestone Rock" medley of reels, 1923, an example, where the playing is solid and driving.

In 1991 An Píobaire listed 29 tracks compiled by Phillippe Varlet and assembled on a cassette tape. I am told that Varlet's discographical work was used in Richard Spottswood's monster Ethnic Music on Records. Another discography, with links to online recordings, is on the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website. But as of 2024 the the most comprehensive discography and compilation of Ennis recordings has been put out by Na Píobairí Uilleann, "Tom Ennis The Master Pipers Volume 5," a two CD set with booklet. It contains 45 tracks.

Seamus Kelly and Aileen Saunders published A Biography of Chicago Patrolman John Ennis and his Piper Son Tom 1847-1931: Music Makers from Kildare to America in 2022. This thorough book compiles much information, some of it new, and contains previously unseen photographs.


Selected References

Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year-Book for 1914 Compiled by James Langand, Chicago Daily News Company copyright 1913 p. 475
voting returns for 1913 Ward 2 Alderman election
https://books.google.com/books?id=f3pQAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA475&lpg=PA475&dq=Thomas+f.+Ennis+chicago+alderman&source=bl&ots=GjQb69iZJR&sig=WR5w63K0lbVXVmF2cCFBiqnx5q0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiPjqX2z9nRAhVCbSYKHUahAisQ6AEILDAD#v=onepage&q=Thomas%20f.%20Ennis%20chicago%20alderman&f=false

Creely, Elizabeth "Shamrock Isle at the Panama Pacific International Exposition and the end of the Irish Village" Historical Essay 2015
Foundsf, San Francisco's Digital Archive accessed Dec. 2020
https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Shamrock_Isle_at_the_Panama_Pacific_International_Exposition_and_the_end_of_the_Irish_Village

[Ennis, John] "Irish Pipes and Pipers. By Thomas Ennis, Chicago Pipers Club." An Gaodal. (The Gael.) : a monthly bi-lingual magazine devoted to the promotion of the language, literature, music and art of Ireland. published by M. J Logan, New York. vol. XXI, no. 2 Feb. 1902, pp. 33-38
HathiTrust Digital Library
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044015365901;view=1up;seq=45

Ennis, John "The Revival of Erin's Language and Music in Chicago" Chicago IL Inter Ocean June 11, 1905 Magazine p. 2 column 1
Newspapers.com

Ennis, John "With The Poets Irish Musicians of New York Reviving the Ancient Music of Ireland" [a social meeting of the "Craft"] NY Advocate May 21, 1921 p. 2 column 1
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1919-1921 - 1070
A reprint, complete and easier to read in An Píobaire vol. 4 no. 21 August 2003 pp. 26-28
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1013&mediaId=26007

Ennis, Tom "Tom Ennis," list of 26 recordings, Discography of American Historical Recordings website.
https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/mastertalent/detail/314130/Ennis_Tom accessed Oct. 2022.

"Four Men Hold Up Saloon" New York Times July 27, 1924 p. 5 column 1
Proquest Historical Newspapers

"Grand Opera Cop Loses Job" Chicago [IL] Daily Tribune July 29, 1911 p. 3 column 2
Newspapers.com

Hayden, James A. "News, Notes & Comments Novel Advertising." [describes poster for the Glenmaddy Men's Association ball which has photos of pipers Tom Ennis, Jimmy McLaughlin, and of Myles McLoughlin and Thomas O'Leary.]
NY Advocate Oct. 22, 1921 p. 3 column 3
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1919-1921 - 1263.pdf

"Hundreds of Chicago Men Reach U. S. Ports From Oversea" Chicago [IL] Daily Tribune June 17, 1919 p. 12 column 2
Proquest Historical Newspapers

"Irish Music Club, Chicago." photograph in Carolan, Nicholas A Harvest Saved Ossian Publications Cork, Ireland 1997 p. 38

Kavana, Ron "I'm Leaving Tipperary: Classic Irish Traditional Music Recorded In America In The 20s & 30s" [the assertion that in World War I Ennis was "gassed and invalided home"; the Shannon Record label.] Globestyle Irish copyright Topic Records Ltd. 1994 CDORBD 082. Compact Disc.

Kelly, Seamus and Aileen Saunders A Biography of Chicago Patrolman John Ennis and his Piper Son Tom 1847-1931: Music Makers from Kildare to America privately published 2022 303 pp.

"Kelly's Night in Ireland Attracts Large Crowd" [Ennis claims to have played at the San Francisco world's fair, 1915] Scranton PA Times-Tribune Nov. 29, 1923 p. 23 column 7
Newspapers.com

McCullough, Lawrence E. Irish Music in Chicago: an ethnomusicological study PhD dissertation, University of Pittsburgh, 1978 pp. 29-32

O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians Chicago 1913 p. 336

O'Neill, Francis letter to Henry Mercer Oct. 15, 1920. From the Collection of the Mercer Museum Library of the Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, PA.

Radio Programs "WCFL [Chicago] 970 Kc.-309.1 M. Sunday, March 15. ... 7:00 p. m. [- 8:00 p. m.]-Irish Program with Tom Ennis and Maurice Lynch sponsored by Street Carmen Local No. 241" Muscatine [IA] Journal and News-Tribune March 14, 1931 p. column 1
Access Newspaper Archives

"Rathmore Club Dance This Sat." [Celtic Hall destroyed by fire] NY Advocate Jan. 31, 1925 p. 2 column 1
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1925-1927 - 0068.pdf

Rietmann, Kevin R. Post to "Life and Times of Legendary Piper Tom Ennis," a topic on Chiff and Fipple Uilleann Pipe Forum, Aug. 26, 2007
http://forums.chiffandfipple.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=52858

Sparrow, John C. History of Personnel Demobilization in the United States Army Department of the Army Pamphlet No. 20 - 210 July 1952. p. 16
https://history.army.mil/html/books/104/104-8/CMH_Pub_104-8.pdf

Spottswood, Richard K. Ethnic Music on Records: a discography of ethnic recordings produced in the United States, 1892 to 1942 University of Illinois Press 1990 Vol. 5 pp. 2743, 2837-38

"Tom Ennis" [store advertisement] NY Advocate Aug. 14, 1920 p. 8 column 4
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1919-1921 - 0732.pdf

"TOM ENNIS Irish Music House ... Now Under the Management of TOMMY HILL ..." NY Advocate May 19, 1923 p. 7 column 5
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1922-1924 - 0654.pdf

"Tom Ennis The Master Pipers Volume 5" Na Píobairí Uilleann 2023. NPUCD028. Two CD compilation of 45 Ennis 78 recordings, with 47 pp. booklet. Produced by Emmett Gill. Biography and "Notes on Recordings" by Emmett Gill. "Tom Ennis' Legacy in Chicago" by Jim McGuire. Audio transfers and audio restoration by Harry Bradshaw.

United States, World War I, military muster rolls and rosters
85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men, 23RD ENGR REGT CO F - CO #7 ENGRS TRK CO | Reel 5.12 | ROLL 1618, 1916 - 1939
FamilySearch.org FamilySearch film #106474335 accessed July 2022
Ennis' individual service history records did not survive a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis. These rosters and a Final Payment Roll for Ennis still exist. There is no suggestion of his being wounded or sick.

Varlet, Phillippe "Tape of Tom Ennis" [discography] An Píobaire Vo. 3 No. 6 March 1991 pp. 17-18
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1012&mediaId=25952

Nick Whitmer
July 2018 additions Dec. 2020; revisions July and Oct. 2022, additions Feb., June, Nov. 2023, Feb., May 2024