DE DANANN, led by founder members Alec Finn and Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh, will give a Christmas concert on Sunday December 30 in the Fairhill House Hotel, Clonbur.
Alec and Johnny will be joined by Eleanor Shanley (vocals ), Mick Conneely (fiddle/whistle/bouzouki ), Derek Hickey (accordion ) and Brian McGrath (banjo/piano ) for an evening of vibrant instrumentals and classic songs.
Alec took up the bouzouki in the early 1970s after asking some friends who were going to Greece to bring him a laouto. Instead they brought him a bouzouzki. He has taught master classes in Limerick College of Music.
Johnny is a true innovator among bodhránai, having invented several techniques that extended the musical vocabulary of the instrument, such as the backslide and playing on the rim. He can also lay claim to being the first to play a bodhrán with a brush.
Eleanor Shanley is one of Ireland’s foremost singers. She first worked with De Danann in 1989 and later on toured and recorded with the great, much missed, Ronnie Drew. She has also recorded a number of solo albums.
Brian McGrath has worked with Frankie Gavin, Noel Hill, Matt Molloy, Charlie Lennon, and Joe Burke, and recorded on more than 120 albums.
Derek Hickey started playing accordion at age 12 and at 18 joined Arcady. He currently is the resident accordion tutor at the University of Limerick.
Mick Conneely has toured and performed with Mary Bergin, Frankie Gavin, Mairtin O’Connor, and Matt Molloy. He released his solo album Selkie in 2001.
This year saw the band play the Volvo Ocean Race; festivals in Finland, Switzerland, and the USA, and headline a sold out concert for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Ticket are €18 and are available from Fairhill House Hotel through 094 - 9546176 or 087 - 1320463.
