Cecil McDiarmid

From Glengarryceltic

Cecil McDiarmid was born in Moose Creek on Wednesday, April 11, 1928 at Lot 13, 7th Concession, Township of Roxborough, county of Stormont. He was fifteen years old when he started to play the fiddle, and loved fiddle music from a very young age. His father played the fiddle, and his grandfather as well, but he never heard him play as he died in 1913. Cecil still has his grandfather’s fiddle, which is 170 years old and German made.

Cecil began playing by ear, but eventually took music lessons from Donald Joseph MacPhee in Alexandria. For many years he played at dances, house parties, and at homes for the aged as well as many other places. He joined the Glengarry Old Time Fiddlers soon after they were formed, in 1967. Cecil is still with them so many years later and loves playing with the group.