Seán Keane (fiddler)
Irish fiddler and longtime member of The Chieftains.
Seán Keane was an Irish fiddler and teacher who became a member of The Chieftains in 1968. He had previously played with Ceoltóirí Chualann in the 1960s. His fiddle style was distinctive, particularly in ornamentation, possibly shaped by uilleann pipe music.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 12 July 1946
- Birthplace
- Drimnagh, Dublin, Ireland
- Died
- 7 May 2023
- Place of death
- Rathcoole, Dublin, Ireland
- Genre
- Folk, Traditional Irish
- Occupation
- Musician; teacher
- Instrument
- Fiddle
- Years active
- 1960s–2023
Facts from the source article.
Early life
Keane was born into a musical family in Drimnagh, a Dublin suburb. Both parents were fiddle players from County Longford and County Clare, and they hosted many traditional musicians traveling to Dublin. The Keane home became a landmark in Dublin's traditional music scene during the 1950s and 1960s. Summer trips to Longford and Clare also exposed Keane and his brother James to much traditional music.
Legacy
In May 1981, Keane was profiled on RTÉ's Hand Me Down series, which examines how traditional music is passed between generations. The program showed him playing solo and accompanying the Castle Céilí Band with the Mullagh set dancers at the Willie Clancy Summer School. In March 2019, he was featured on TG4's documentary series 'Sé Mo Laoch, a 25-minute episode covering his life and career from childhood onward.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Seán Keane (fiddler) born?
Seán Keane was born on 12 July 1946 in Drimnagh, Dublin, Ireland.
When did Seán Keane (fiddler) die?
Seán Keane died on 7 May 2023 in Rathcoole, Dublin, Ireland.
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