Born August 12, 1888, Irene M. Giblin was the oldest of six children.  From a young age, Irene was natural with the piano. As a way to make money for her family, fourteen years old Irene began to work as music demonstrator in the Grand Leader department store. There she played the songs from the Remick catalog for customers. After graduating from high school, Irene moved to Stix, Baer, & Fuller department store where she continued her music demonstrations while also selling new sheet music.  However, this time she was composing and playing her own original pieces. Her most notable rags are Chicken Chowder, Sleepy Lou, and the Aviator Rag. After marrying her husband, Edward Patrick O’Brien,  Irene backed away from composing and demonstrating to foucs on her new family. However, Irene Giblin was very instrumental in the development of ragtime due to her ability to compose and play music.