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De Dannan – Legend, Not Myth
by William Ramoutar

Well, the original band may have disappeared into the heady mists of Irish myth and legend, but their music will be around influencing new and old musicians forever. No lie. Because in the history of really any band, there has never been such a stable of hugely talented female lead singers, and then there were the men, not to mention the musicians themselves.

Dolores Keane was the first lead singer, when she was asked to join bouzouki player Alec Finn, fiddler Frankie Gavin, Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh on bodhrán and Charlie Piggott playing banjo. Really almost a supergroup, except for the fact that there are no supergroups in traditional Irish music, but these four were darn near it. Frankie Gavin is considered one of the greatest fiddlers of all time in the music and Johnny McDonagh truly a force to be reckoned with, on the “goat.”

Charlie Piggott, a superb banjo player, had a superb touch on both the slow and the lightning fast tunes (even though in those days playing that quick was not what it was all about, as it is now). These days every band seems to be rendering the traditional tunes to dust as they lean towards faster and faster delivery. And with that comes inaccuracy, because as you well might know, a person’s fingers can only move so fast.

Yes, it is great to hear bands with such dexterity, but there is a lot to be said for presenting the tunes in all their glory - being able to savor every note and nuance of the music. As I mentioned, Dolores Keane was the first lead singer, and left not too long after to marry her fiancée John Faulkner (with whom she went on to record several albums before she herself went solo).

De Dannan then brought in the man from Dalymount, Dublin, Johnny Moynihan, on vocals and that fine Irish instrument the bouzouki. In fact, he is considered to be the musician who first introduced said instrument to the Irish tradition. He was also a founding member of another influential Irish band, Sweeney’s Men, in which he was paired with Andy Irvine. (Andy went on to form Planxty with Christy Moore, Donal Lunny and Liam O’Flynn, not to mention later Patrick Street and a solo career of large proportions!) However, Moynihan was moving on and was hardly in De Dannan a wet day before the urge to go was on him.

In came the glorious Maura O’Connell, and there the big time started. Maura was offered the job as their singer when she was working in her parents’ fish and chip shop and moonlighting with a guitarist friend in local clubs. In walked Alec and Frankie, offering her a trip to America with them on tour and at first she said no. But probably the thought of the wild blue yonder and bigger audiences to win got the better of her. To hear her sing “My Irish Molly-O” is a lesson in true vocal power. To me she is the clarion of Irish music. She possesses a voice clear as a bell and with a delivery guaranteed to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, if you have any! She wasn’t to stay long either, though, as the “wild blue” really did call and she wanted to challenge herself and stayed in America to pursue country and what was being called “New Grass” music with the fantastic Bela Fleck and Jerry Douglas.

So, next, in came Mary Black and they went again to record another two superb albums.

Dolores Keane came back for the following two albums after Mary departed to chase her own fame and boy, did she achieve massive fame and fortune with being a huge draw in - of all places - would you believe, Japan? She was even sponsored by a Japanese camera company. Fair play to her.

Then along came the great Eleanor Shanley, who brought her own inimitable versions of old classic tunes. Through all this the stalwart Alec and Frankie were the only founding members remaining and there they stayed through the angelic voices of Tommy Fleming and later, Andrew Murray.

But it would be a mistake to dwell on just the singers, as the musicians were just as prolific. Button accordionist Jackie Daly rambled in to create some “Cork” magic as Charlie Piggott’s replacement when Charlie had a tragic accident where his thumb was slammed in the door of a van ending his brilliant career as a banjo player. Jackie brought his own masterful sound. Later Galway man Mairtin O’Connor replaced Jackie and then Aidan Coffey was Mairtin’s stand-in when he went off on his “Connaughtman’s Rambles.” Derek Hickey from Limerick was the next man in on buttons, and so on. Colm Murphy was to take up Johnny McDonagh’s space on stage as bodhrán man on the spot.

Truly, with each move, whether singer or musician, brought a new exciting twist to the sound of De Dannan. If for nothing else in Irish music they should surely be accredited with bringing us these tremendous artists who have gone on to do great things in their own right. Jackie Daly went on to form Patrick Street with Andy Irvine. Charlie Piggott, although unable to play his beloved banjo, took up his second instrument, the button accordion, and has recorded many fine cds with his many friends.

Mary Black has and still does circle the world on a yearly basis, turning on new fans to her music. Dolores Keane, Maura O’Connell, Tommy Fleming and Eleanor Shanley all have magnificent cds of their own from their solo careers, and it goes on.

But, what of Alec Finn and Frankie Gavin? Well, they brought De Dannan to an end in 2003, but……… right after, Alec copyrighted the name “De Dannan” which piqued Frankie’s ire, whereupon he brought out his own version and they each have their own bands now, although there is still a lot of contention as to whose is the “real” one. A shame in one way to end such a saga, but you cannot dispute the marvelous music that still manages to be produced and the plethora of albums that will be spinning forever. Each of the aforementioned members of the band De Dannan have all become legends in music, still inspiring all who hear them, and hopefully we will continue to benefit from their terrific talents.

Photo Credits:
Original De Dannan/Irish Showbands

Dolores Keane: BBC

Maura O'Connell: The Arts Venter

Mary Black: Last FM

Eleanor Stanley: FaceBook

New De Dannann/Hearth Music

William Ramoutar

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BIO William Ramoutar
IRISH WAYS RADIO PROGRAMME
WFCF Radio 88.5 FM
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Review written by William Ramoutar Presenter of Irish Ways Radio Programme, St Augustine Florida