MUSIC Sean Keane sings for the islands

KEANE EDGE?Singer, songwriter and piper SeΡn Keane.

SeΡn Keane sings for the islands


Henry McGlade

A special fundraising concert for the Irish Islands Federation – Comhdhail OileΡnn Na hÉireann will take place in Hotel Westport on Friday, July 3. The night will feature SeΡn Keane and his band, with special guests Freta Hannon and friends.
SeΡn Keane, a Galway man, was described as the greatest musical find of the ’90s by The London Independent. Traditional Irish, folk and even country and blues songs all lend themselves to his unique style and unforgettable voice.
Growing up in a family of singers and musicians, SeΡn learned the sean-nós style of singing from his mother and his aunts. Singing was his life, even in early childhood. By the time SeΡn reached his teens, he had collected 13 All-Ireland medals in Fleadh Ceoil competitions. He was by then an accomplished whistle and flute player as well and had taken up the uilleann pipes and bodhrΡn.
When he joined his first group, Shegui, he had already served a long apprenticeship; after travelling throughout Europe with the band, he left to join Reel Union, a group which also featured sister Dolores and accordion player MΡirtín O Connor. Later, he was part of Arcady, with well known names like Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh, Sharon Shannon and Frances Black.
After a short flirtation with the theatre, when he played in the Druid production of ‘The Midnight Court’ and The Abbey Theatre’s ‘Sheep’s Milk on the Boil’, SeΡn embarked on his solo career in 1993.
‘All Heart, No Roses’ received rave reviews and was named Debut Folk Album of the Year by Q Magazine. In the following years, success continued with Meteor Award nominations and accolades that included being named Best Male Folk Performer by Irish Music Magazine. ‘A Portrait’, a collection of SeΡn’s songs, was a multi-platinum best seller; indeed  all of his solo albums are platinum sellers.
Six solo albums later, SeΡn continues to delight audiences all over the world with his live performances and recorded work. He tours regularly with his band in Ireland, Austria, Germany, the US and Canada, as well as appearing at major festivals world-wide.
SeΡn will be joined on stage by Pat Coyne (support vocals and guitar) and Fergus Feely (support vocals and mandocello).

Doors open at 9pm. Admission €20.