De Dannan launch WonderWaltz with no looking back in anger

Date Published: {J}

WonderWaltz, the new offering from de Dannan is being launched this week.

This is the de Dannan that boasts two founders of the original group, Alec Finn on bouzouki and Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh on bodhrán, as well as Derek Hickey on accordion, Brian McGrath on banjo and piano, and Eleanor Shanley on vocals – all three were members of the band at different stages. The fiddle player is Mick Conneely, who frequently served as the group’s replacement fiddle player in years past and “knows more about the band than any of us”, according to Alec Finn.

The third co-founder of the original band, Frankie Gavin is not part of this line up, having set up his own group, Frankie Gavin and de Dannan last year.

The existence of two de Dannans can be a bit confusing for the average music fan, but as Alec points out, the WonderWaltz line up consists of people who were in de Dannan at some point in their careers, so he is happy that they really are de Dannan.

Apart from Mick Conneely, all the other members have been permanent members of the group, and Mick was a regular stand in when Frankie was unavailable, explains Alec. “We are perceived as being de Dannan because we are.”

“The other [group] came about because of Frankie putting a band together and calling it de Dannan,” adds Ringo.

That out of the way, it’s back to talking about the latest album, WonderWaltz. It arose from a benefit concert last Christmas for Changing Minds, a charity established by de Dannan’s former road manager Dave Barry to help people suffering from mental illness.At the time of the gig there were no plans for an album, but the response was so good that the idea of one took root, says Ringo. “A lot of the old de Dannan fans were there and there were a lot of requests to do it again.”

So they headed into studio, to create the familiar de Dannan sound of bouzouki, fiddle and bodhrán, supported by banjo, accordion and piano.

WonderWaltz has a fine selection of traditional tunes including The Old Claddagh Ring, The Turnpike Gate and The Kilavil Fancy. When it came to selecting tunes, Ringo, Mick and Brian came up with most of the ideas, although all the band members agreed the final selection of hornpipes, jigs, reels and waltzes.

“We were looking for old tunes and keeping old sounds,” says Ringo while Alec adds that, for that reason, the group doesn’t ever use rhythm guitar.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.