ABOUT THE BAND

ELEANOR SHANLEY

Eleanor Shanley is one of the most loved and respected vocalists in Ireland.  Nearly 30 years since starting her musical career as a vocalist with De Danann, and her voice as pure and lyrical as the first day she stepped in front of a microphone in 1990. Renowned for her unique interpretation of Irish and Roots songs Eleanor has been at the top of her profession since joining De Danann and has recorded many solo albums including Desert Heart, A Place of My Own and her most recent, Forever Young from which her single, the Thom Moore classic Gorgeous and Bright, was the most played track on RTE 1 Radio for the summer of 2015. Eleanor has toured Ireland, Canada, The USA, Europe, China and Japan both as a soloist, together with De Danann and other artists.  She has also recorded with many great musicians including Ronnie Drew with whom she recorded two albums (Ronnie Drew and Eleanor Shanley and El Amor De Mi Vida), Sharon Shannon, Christy Moore, Donal Lunny, U2, The Dubliners and many more.

PADRAIG MCGOVERN

Padraig McGovern hails from Ballymagovern, a townland on the Cavan/Leitrim border. He has recorded with numerous artists over the last decade including a highly accredited duet album with Peter Carberry entitled Forgotten Gems. Padraig recently participated in the highly acclaimed multi-disciplinary project, The Pipes The Pipes, devised by Dónal Dineen. With fellow pipers Leonard Barry and Maitiú O’Casaide and visual artists Lionel Palun and Guillermo Carrion, the show paid homage to the instrument, old pipers, current pipers and also offered and insight into the future of piping.

DAVE SHERIDAN

Dave Sheridan’s flute playing has been described as “a highly accomplished free flowing fluid style, with sound technique and solid driving rhythm” (Hot Press Magazine) and a flute style, which takes on “Lark like qualities” (fRoots Magazine). On the back of his critically acclaimed debut album Sheridans Guesthouse, he released his second solo flute album entitled Drivin’ Leitrim Timber in 2010. This album has received rave reviews, with The Irish Times describing it as “a joy…. a thoughtfully organised collection, that celebrates a fluid free flowing regional flute style….with enough sharp edges to keep the listener’s antennae on high alert for the next hairpin bend”. Dave has recorded with artists from renowned traditional groups like Lunasa, Dervish, At The Racket and De Danann as well as performing on many occasions with the Sligo based band Téada. He has also performed on The Late Late Show, The Ray Darcy Show, Geantrai, The Reel Deal and Fleadh Live.

JOHN MCCARTIN

John comes from County Leitrim. Starting out as a fiddle player, his interest in accompaniment brought him to the guitar. He has played and recorded with artists including Frankie Gavin, Donal Lunny, Dermot Byrne, and Sharon Shannon, as well as bands including Dervish, Lunasa and De Dannan.