De Dannan is one of the most famous traditional Irish groups of the recent past. Formed in 1974 in the Irish-speaking area of Spiddal, Co. Galway, they have recorded numerous albums and display an array of unmistakable talent. The band takes its name from Irish mythology, the Tuatha De Dannan, the magical folk of the west.
The founders of the band were Frankie Gavin (fiddle, whistle), Alec Finn (bouzouki), Johnny McDonagh (bodhran, bones) and Charlie Piggott (accordion, banjo). Their often-changing membership has spun off solo careers for singers such as Eleanor Shanley, Maura O’Connell, Mary Black and Dolores Keane, and has included such luminaries as Andy Irvine, Johnny Moynihan and Frankie Gavin.
Eleanor Shanley was discovered performing at an informal session in a Dublin pub “The Merchant” by the De Dannan many years ago. The members of the band asked her to go to Galway to discuss her joining the band as they had a tour of Finland lined up in two weeks time. She ended up staying for over five years, touring the world and recording two critically acclaimed albums “Jacket Of Batteries” and the groundbreaking “Half Set in Harlem”. After five years on the road with De Dannan, Eleanor departed in December 1992 deciding that it was time to pursue a solo career.
After 27 years of playing music with De Dannan, Frankie Gavin and Alec Finn ended their partnership. As they were the only remaining founder members of the band, this split up effectively meant the end of De Dannan. The real De Dannan will never perform again.
Discography:
De Danann (1975)
Selected Jigs Reels and Songs (Shanachie Records, 1976)
The 3rd Irish Folk Festival in Concert (1977)
The Mist Covered Mountain (1980)
Star-Spangled Molly (1981)
Best of De Dannan (1981)
Song For Ireland (Sugar Hill Records, 1983)
The Irish RM (1984)
Anthem (1985)
Ballroom (1987)
A Jacket of Batteries (1988)
Half Set in Harlem (1991)
Hibernian Rhapsody (Shanachie Records, 1995)
World Tour (studio and live recordings, 1996)
How the West Was Won (1999)
Welcome to the Hotel Connemara (2000)
Wonderwaltz (2010)
Jigs, Reels & Rock n’ Roll (Tara Music, 2012)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
