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Sleeve Notes
De Dannan wish to thank the following friends for their support over the years: Dave Barry, Maggie Cadden & John Imhoff, Eamon Cannon, Phil & June Colclough, Mick Comying, Breeda Connaughton, Betty Dolan, John Dunford, J.J. Gavin, Maty Gavin, Martina Goggins, Tracey Harris, Caideen Hehir, Breda Hughes, Anjelica Huston, Tony Huston, Nancy Iverson, Sean Jackson, Sean Keane of Milwaukee, Johnny Kelly (R.I.P.), Svend Kieldsen, Bill & Anita King, Leonie King, Elise Kress, Alison Lee, Thelma Mansfield, Ciaran MacMathúna, Susie McCrann, Sean McDonagh, Dolly McMahon, John Morris, Ivan Pallazzeschi, Keith Richards, Derek Saunders, Sarah Shallow, Tim Tess Sheedy, Melinda Stanley, Noel Spain, Ron Wood and many other friends too numerous to mention.
Hummingbird Records would like to thank: Joe Binchy, Terry Connaughton, Kieran Corrigan, Tom Dunford, Paula Gaffney, Paddy Gilsenan, Eugene Kelly, Paul McCarthy, Keith McConnell, Claire McGaffey, Dermot McLaughlin, Melanie & Tony at Mid Atlantic Digital, Tim O'Donoghue, Liz Reeves, Vivien Rowantree, Brigid Ruane, Studio Cois Fharraige Indreabhan, Totally Wired Studios, Anne Queally at Trend.
The idea of De Dannan was conceived in Hughes Pub in Spiddal, Co. Galway. The original line-up was Frankie Gavin, Charlie Piggott, Alec Finn, Johnny 'Ringo' McDonagh and Dolores Keane. A host of singers and musicians have since performed with De Dannan including Mary Bergin, Mary Black, Aiden Coffee, Brian Bourke, John Carty, Mick Conneely, Jackie Daly, Carmel Dempsey, Colin Dunne, John Faulkner, Tommy Fleming, Sean Gavin, Carl Hession, Derek Hickey, Andy Irvine, Philip King, Caroline Lavelle, Christy Leary, Tim Lyons, Jimmy MacCarthy, Kevin McCloud, Arty McGlynn, Joe McKenna, Eilish Moore, Johnny Moynihan, Maura O'Connell, Martín O'Connor, Peter O'Hanlon, Brendan O'Regan, Sean Ryan, Eleanor Shanley, Bruno Staehelin, Harry Dean Stanton, Roderick Morris, Ronnie Drew, Bernadette Greevy, Ray McBride, Bill Whelan (Double Bill) and Desi Wilkinson.
The present line up of De Dannan is: Alec Finn, Frankie Gavin, Brian McGrath, Colm Murphy, Andrew Murray.
The Arrival of The Queen of Sheeba in Galway — The late Yehudi Menuhin described Frankie Gavin as being one of the world's greatest violinists and Frankie's eclectic taste knows no boundaries in his search for good music. Here Handel's composition is given the full De Dannan treatment and the Queen of Sheeba is welcomed up the Corrib aboard a Galway hooker just in time for the Arts Festival. Frankie's brother Sean Gavin suggested this treatment.
My Irish Molly O — Maura O'Connell from Ennis. Co. Clare made her recording debut on The Star Spangled Molly and this Flanagan brothers song was an instant hit for De Dannan. Maura's singing captured the ethos and atmosphere of the Flanagans. Now based in Nashville, Tennessee, she has worked with some of the greats of the country music scene.
Hey Jude & St. Jude's Reel — Alec loves the music of the 60's, particularly the Beatles, The Rolling Stones. Motown, Memphis Soul and the Blues of the Delta and Chicago. Here he leads the band through an arrangement of Hey Jude, skillfully knitting it into St. Jude's Reel.
Song For Ireland — The actor Geoff Hughes (star of Coronation Street and Keeping Up Appearances) took a keen interest in traditional music and shared many a session with De Dannan on bodhran. It was Geoff that brought Song for Ireland to De Dannan. Mary Black who had previously sung with a band called General Humbert joined De Dannan in the early 80's. Mary is now one of the great successes of the Irish Music Industry.
Langstroms Pony: Langstroms Pony, The Tap Room & Lord Ramsey's Reel — A jig and 2 reels. The Tap Room was originally recorded by Ballinasloe box player PJ Conlon and Sligo fiddle master 'Professor' James Morrison.
The Rose and The Briar — (Taylor) Tommy Fleming from Co. Sligo was the band's vocalist for a number of years, recording Hibernian Rhapsody and touring worldwide before joining the long list of De Dannan singers who went on to become major recording artistes.
Seamaisin — This music of Connemara is a leitmotif that drifts through the De Dannan story. The late Sean O'Conaire (007) from Rosmuc was a friend of the band from the earliest days and its a great pleasure to include this track from The Mist Covered Mountain.
Two Jewish Reels: A Shepherd's Dream & Onga Bucharesti — On their peregrinations around America, De Dannan linked up with the Andy Statman Klezmer Orchestra who gave them these two tunes.
Do It in Jig Time — An original composition by Frankie Gavin
Restless Farewell — From the album 1/2 Set in Harlem, Restless Farewell is Bob Dylans reworking of the Parting Glass. This version features the guitar playing of Arty McGlynn who co-produced 1/2 set in Harlem along with John Faulkner
The Cameronian & The Doon — Jackie Daly from Kanturk, Co. Cork lived near Kinvara Co. Galway and joined De Dannan. This is Jackies' selection of reels.
Far Away in Australia — Dolores Keane from the notable Galway musical family "The Keanes of Cahirlistrane" was De Dannan's first vocalist and an original member of the Band. The power and soul of Dolores' voice gave her legendary status from an early age and an audience wherever music is loved. Although many will remember Connie Foley singing this, Dolores heard this song from the singing of Christy Hennessy.
The Rights Of Man & The Pride of Petravore — The Rights of Man Is a traditional tune in honour of Tom Paine while The Pride of Petravore also known as Eileen Og was written by Percy French.
Eireann Mo Ghrá Mo Chroí — Inish Bofin is one of the most stunning islands off the coast of Galway and the islanders have quite a soft spot for music and musicians with quite a great tradition In their own right, Many Galway musicians head to Bofin for rest and recreation and It Is from here that De Dannan's latest recruit hails. Andrew Murray heard this song from Francis O'Halloran.
Mr. O'Connor — The De Dannan version of an O'Carolan Tune.
New Irish Barndance — A classic music-hall barndance by the Flanagan brothers, whose style would have been In vogue at that time.
The Chicken Reel Set: The Chicken Reel, Mrs McCloud's Reel & Jimmy Kelly's Reel. — The Chicken Reel was composed by Martín O'Connor's and Frankie after school one day in Martín's mother's house (thanks to Mrs. Kathleen O Connor). It Is followed by Mrs. McCloud's and Jimmy Kelly's reels.
Ramblin' Irishman — An Ulster song heard from the singing of Len Graham.
The Humours Of Galway — Hornpipe and reels. A later arrange ment of which, won the prestigious Brataslavia Radio Award lor RTÉ produced by Ciarán MacMathúna.
The Rights Of Man & The Pride of Petravore — A live version of Track 13 on Disc 1
Anthem For Ireland — (To the tune of the London Derry Ait, written by Desmond Leslie of Glasslough, Co, Monaghan. The tune is a plea for peace in Ireland.
Dinkies' Reels — Two Donegal reels. These were heard from the McLaughlin brothers of Derry.
McLaughlin's Flings: The Royal Artillery Band & The Staten Island Reel — Also learned from Dermot and Joe McLaughlin.
Operator — Eleanor Shanley from Keshcarrigan, Co. Leitrim touched base with De Dannan through the good offices of a Galway publican, Frank Cooney. From the very first day, she was extremely popular and recorded 2 Albums with De Dannan: A Jacket of Batteries and 1/2 Set In Harlem. The innovative spirit of De Dannan was continued when they linked up with Gospel singers in New York. Here, Eleanor shares vocals with Luclie Oliver, Bambi Jones and Pam Johnston.
Connie From Constantinople — Martin O Connor's re-working of an Eastern European tune. It leads called the R na G Reel, tlhe signature tune of Radio na Gaeltachta.