Egan, Michael, comments and selected references

Much of what is known about Michael Egan's life comes from the recollections of people who knew him or knew of him. Hardly any information comes from government or church records, newspapers or directories.

It is not known where or when Egan was born, or exactly when he died. In Irish Minstrels and Musicians, O'Neill writes that Nicholas Burke, an acquaintance of Egan's in New York City, said Egan was from Glenamaddy, Barony of Ballymoe, Co. Galway. Also that Mr. John Cummings, who knew him in Liverpool, said Egan came from Cultymaugh, Co. Mayo. O'Neill writes that Egan died in NYC in 1860 or 1861.

The most promising match for the assertions in the previous paragraph is a death notice for "Michael Egan, a native of county Mayo, in the 55th year of his age." He died on April 24, 1860 in NYC. I have not found a death certificate or cemetery record for this man.

Breandán Breathnach wrote that "It is said" that Egan "lived in Dundalk for some time." His is the only reference I have seen to Egan in Dundalk, or to Egan's whereabouts before removing to Liverpool.

Barry O'Neill, in his introduction to Francis O'Neill's Irish Folk Music, wrote that 'Nicholas Markey, the Drogheda piping instructor, relayed the information that Egan was short, dark-haired and that "the thirst was always upon him." ' In his notebooks, Barry O'Neill says Seán Reid told him that "M. Egan had to leave Liverpool - he got in dispute with customer over pipes and threatened him with reamer ... Scratched his hand + the fellow was going to sue." Reid was told this either by Brother Gildas or pipemaker R. L. O'Mealy.

Egan left Liverpool for New York City about 1852. Francis O'Neill says that Tom Coughlan, perhaps a liquor store or saloon owner, "induced Michael Egan ... to come to New York and live with him." Egan apparently gave piping instruction to Tom's son John (1837-1908) and made two sets for John Coughlan's use. Barry O'Neill says Egan "played in saloons of Tom Coughlan, Sr."

Francis O'Neill, again in Irish Minstrels and Musicians, says that Egan "kept a workshop on Forty-second Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, New York, until his death...." The 1856/57 New York city directory lists "Egan Michael, musician, h[ome] Eleventh av. n[ear?] W. 47th". This is the only likely reference to the pipemaker in any New York City directory. The 1854/55 directory lists "Coghlan Patrick, liquors, Eleventh av. c[orner?]. W. 48th". These three addresses are near each other in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.

Links to photographs of a few Egan sets are so named in the references below.

Nick Whitmer May 2020
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Breathnach, Breandán "Pipers and Piping in Louth" County Louth Archaeological & Historical Journal XIX 2 (1978) Reprinted in The Man and His Music An Anthology of the writings of Breandán Breathnach Na Píobairí Uilleann 1996 p. 64

Irish Deaths in America.
"EGAN-In this city, on 24th inst., Michael Egan, a native of county Mayo, in the 55th year of his age."
NY Phoenix May 5, 1860 p. 179 column 1
New York NY Phoenix 1859-1861 - 0246.pdf

National Museums Scotland "Uilleann bagpipe EGAN, MICHAEL ... Inventory number: K.2005.518" [set with photo]
https://mimo-international.com/mimo/detailstatic.aspx?RSC_BASE=IFD&RSC_DOCID=MINIM_UK_40993

O'Neill, Barry notebook no. 1, early 1970s, p. 41 [had to leave Liverpool]

O'Neill, Barry notebook no. 2, early 1970s, p. 42 [played in saloons]

O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians 1913 pp. 159 [Eagan's workshop address], 248 [Tom and John Coughlan]

Na Píobairí Uilleann "Cormac Cannon Michael Egan Set" [photos] Accessed May 2020
https://pipers.ie/source/gallery/?galleryId=769

Na Píobairí Uilleann "O'Dowd Egan - Second shoot" [photos of an Egan set made for John Coughlan] Accessed May 2020
https://pipers.ie/source/gallery/?galleryId=113

U.S. Library of Congress. Dayton C. Miller Collection. "DCM 0101: Michael Egan / Union Bagpipe (Irish Bagpipe Double Chanter)" [2 photos] Accessed May 2020.
https://www.loc.gov/item/dcmflute.0101/