Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Mid-Atlantic Region

James Early’s imprint on the Irish music and dance world is as a renowned musician, successful dancer, accomplished teacher and respected adjudicator. 

James’ exploits in music are extensive. In 1973, he was the first North American to win an All-Ireland championship on piano accordion. He was also a member of the Garryowen Ceili Band, which was the first band from North America to take first place, winning in the same year.  

He taught music for seven years with classes in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and was one of the first to record music for dancing. There were older records for dancing, but the styles had changed. His first album was “Music for the Feis,” and his second, “More Music for the Feis.”

He has accompanied dancers at countless regional qualifying events as well as the North American Irish Dance Championships, the All-Scotland Championships and the World Championships. He has traveled to all points over the globe to play for the highest level of dance competitions, and his influence as an accordion player is felt though past pupils and fellow musicians who have been inspired by his talent. He is grateful for the teaching of Martin Mulvihill, Brian Quinn and Pete Kelly.

James was also a very successful competitive dancer himself, starting with the Peter Smith School to the school opened by his sister, Patricia Early McLoughlin. His sister Karen Conway plays fiddle and is a recognized feis musician.

He won countless solo and championship titles throughout the United States and Canada, including first place at the N.Y. Oireachtas which at that time was the North American Championships. James earned his TCRG in 1977 and his ADCRG in 1987. His decades teaching with Early-McLoughlin and working as an adjudicator have taken him throughout North America, Ireland, the U.K. and Australia, and included multiple turns adjudicating the World Championships.

In addition to outside careers in school teaching and with the New York City Department of Corrections, James has served on the executive board in the Mid-Atlantic Region, is a past Regional Director, and is currently an elected CLRG representative and chairman of the Coiste Rialacha.

James currently resides in New York with his wife Geraldine Conway herself a former dancer and musician, and their daughter Mairead who was also a champion Irish dancer and TCRG on staff with Early-McLoughlin. James is both honored and grateful to be inducted into the Mid-Atlantic Region Comhaltas Hall of Fame.