Joseph Whelan was born in 1942 and grew up in Holyrood, Conception Bay. Both his parents were from there, and they trace their family ancestry back to Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. Joe learned to play from his father, a celebrated fiddler in the area who was in much demand, and his siblings were also skilled at accordion and step-dancing. As an adult, Joe relocated to Labrador, where he worked as a heavy equipment operator. He played in a band called The Northernaires for a while and kept up his fiddle playing over the years.

Collector’s Note: I spent an evening with Joe at his home in Happy Valley, Labrador. His repertoire of tunes was most definitely Irish in origin. However, given the different versions of the Irish tunes he played, they could be local tunes, perhaps learned from his father. Joe also played Maid Behind the Bar, Teetotaler’s Reel, Paddy in London, Rakes of Kildare.