This intimate documentary from 1993 celebrates Arty McGlynn, the groundbreaking guitarist who transformed the role of the instrument in Irish traditional music. A recipient of the Gradam Ceoil TG4 Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, McGlynn’s artistry as a soloist, accompanist, composer, and arranger inspired other musicians to push musical boundaries while remaining rooted in tradition.

Born near Omagh, Co Tyrone, into a musical family, McGlynn began on accordion before discovering the guitar at age eleven. Initially drawn to jazz and the styles of Wes Montgomery and Barney Kessel, he honed his craft touring with showbands in the 1960s and 1970s before returning to traditional music. His 1979 album McGlynn’s Fancy remains a landmark recording, cementing his influence on the guitar’s place in the tradition.