hɪz fˈɑːðɚ ænd hɪz ˈʌŋkəl pˈædi kˈæni,  ˈɔːlsoʊ ɐn ˌɪnfluːˈɛnʃəl fˈɪdlɚ, wɜːɹ ɐmˌʌŋ ðə fˈaʊndɚz ʌvðə tˈʌlə sˈeɪɪli bˈænd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi sˈɪks.
His father and his uncle Paddy Canny,  also an influential fiddler, were among the founders of the Tulla Céilí Band in 1946.