Tony Byrne has been playing guitar since he was an 11 year old and throughout his teenage years played with various groups, covering a range of styles such as rock and roll, blues, pop funk and soul. For a time he specialised in the styles of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Scotty Moore, who played with Elvis.

I first got in touch with Tony myself on a student basis a couple of years ago. I had never had the time to put in or money for lessons when I was younger, but I have always admired people who could play an instrument, even to a point of jealousy and thought that I should take up lessons as I had missed out on an important side of life.

I first went to an adult evening class in Ringsend Technical Institute on a course ‘Guitar for Beginners’ and this went well for the first few weeks. It was a group session with 7 to 8 students that covered an overview with some of the basics, but it lacked an in-depth intensity that would only be possible with one-to-one tuition.

I found the answer with an advertisement in this newspaper by Tony Byrne offering guitar lessons. I got in touch with the man himself and told him I was in my 40s and had not had the chance to learn to play, but would like to try to learn.

His advice was a reassuring message that I was not to old to learn but had to put in the practice, so now I go to Tony once a week.

After finishing in Star of the Sea, Tony went to Sandymount High School on a scholarship but soon realised that music was his calling. In the late 60s he studied with the legendry jazz guitarist Louis Stewart and subsequently became involved in the jazz scene in Dublin.

He plays with his own quartet in restaurants, hotels and corporate functions and has played with most of the well-known jazz musicians in Ireland in trios, quartets, quintets and so on.
Some ten years ago, he began teaching guitar from his home in Tritonville Road to pass on his vast knowledge.

He gets immense satisfaction from teaching and tells of the importance of music to him throughout his life and on a broader level, he talks of the importance music has for people generally.

He even believes that it’s a spiritual experience. “It can be an emotional experience for most, it gives a confidence that helps one develop and it’s great fun socially, although not for everyone as there are many lonely hours of practice behind a performance,” says Tony.

As a student with Tony I do find it is fascinating to get so close musically to someone with so many years’ experience.