Born in 1945 Meelick, Co. Clare near Limerick border, Mick picked up the fiddle around age 10 and learned from two locals, Con Foley and Jim Sullivan. His father played melodian, brother the accordian, and sister the fiddle. He played with the Dalcassian Ceili Band, competing and winning the Ceili Band contest at the 1960 Kerry Fleadh. At sessions Mick played with likes of piper Martin Rochford and many other locals.

In 1974, Mick came to Boston to play what was to have been a six week gig with a band. However, Mick travelled on from there, staying in Chicago and eventually finding his way to Detroit playing local venues like the Gaelic League and Irish-American Club with the band, "The Irish Heritage". Mick worked as a tradesman and eventually started his own flooring business which he's been at ever since.

Mick settled in Detroit area met Anna Hayes and they got married in 1976. The Gavins had 3 sons, Michael, Patrick and Séan. Mike plays fiddle and guitar and Sean plays flute and pipes. Now accomplished musicians, they also teach at Detroit CCÉ along with Mick. In 2002, his young fiddle trio took first at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Listowel.

Years before Irish music became commercially popular, Mick would personally organize concerts with the likes of Dolores Keane, Mary Black with DeDannan, Patrick Street, Stocktons Wing, Joe and Antionette McKenna, Martin Hayes and many more who might have bypassed Detroit altogether only for Mick's efforts.

Mick rarely misses a session, and is well known as Feis and Fleadh around the Midwest. He has an amazing capability to play "one more tune" even at 3am.

Mick almost singlehandedly organizes the "Crossroads Ceili" concerts every December at Ark in Ann Arbor, bringing in the likes of Liz Carroll, Liz Knowles and Seamus Connolly for fiddle workshops and 2 nights of concerts.

Mick also runs the largest St. Patrick's Day event in the Detroit area, "IrishFest". It is the only venue in town that has both a family friendly atmosphere and great traditional music.

Mick's personable nature, fine musicianship and passion about the music make him an invaluable resource to the Irish community in the Detroit area.

Mick at session.

The Dalcassian Ceili Band, winners of the Kerry Fleadh Ceili band competiton, 1960.

Limerick News article showcases the Dalcassian Ceilidhe Band.
A young Mick, (extreme right) is incorrectly identified as Patsy "Garvin".

above: In O'Halloran's Tipperary Pub with Mick, Dominick Murray, and Tommy O'Halloran (proprietor). The "Tipp" was a hot spot in Detroit in the 70's. Dominick, now plays out in Baltimore-DC area in "IrishFire" and Tommy still owns the Tipp. right: Mick and Dominick at St. Pat's gig. The suits tells us it's the 70's.

Performing with students in 2002. Three of his students, Holland O'Rourke Rapier, Kelsey Lutz and Maura Nicholson playing as a trio on fiddles, took 2nd at the All-Ireland in Listowel Co. Kerry in 2002. in the U12 competition.