Humour, sadness and joy as John launches debut album
Nobody could accuse South Galway fiddle player John Keehan of rushing the release of his debut CD, The Humours of Scariff, a lovely mix of traditional tunes and new compositions.
John who lives in Scariff, County Clare, grew up in Lough Cutra outside Gort and began learning fiddle as a youngster. But for many reasons, it’s only now that he’s got around to completing this project. And he can be very happy with it.
He’s joined on the album by accordion player Derek Hickey, formerly of De Danann and Arcady; by Ciara O’Sullivan from Ennis on harp and vocals; Willie Kilkenny from Ballindine on flute; and his sister, Mary Noonan, on vocals.
John’s new CD contains three of his own compositions in addition to favourites from the traditional canon – including the title track, in honour of his adopted home.
The first new work, Eimear’s Hornpipe, is a beautiful, rhythmic piece in memory of his niece, Eimear Noonan, who died in France in November 2017, following a fall while out running. A superb young musician, Eimear was leader of the Coole Youth Orchestra in Gort and the organisation retains links with the Noonan family by its ongoing support of a bursary they set up in Eimear’s memory.
The second original tune, Lament for Barry, is an atmospheric march in memory of another young life cut short. It was written for John’s neighbour, Barry Nash, an underage county hurler and world handball champion, who died following a car accident in January 2014.
John’s third composition is a jig called The Blue Chicken that has humour at its heart.
It’s based on a story he heard from a teacher friend about a student who was sitting an oral Irish exam and was clearly not a Gaeilgeoir.
After several long pauses while trying to respond to the examiner’s questions, the young lad was asked if he had any pets at home. ‘Sea, sicín,’ was the answer. When asked ‘cén dath’, the young lad answered ‘gorm’.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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