John Sheahan

John Sheahan was the quiet one in The Dubliners or as he sometimes refers to himself during his 48 year tenure with the group, as ‘The mortar between the Bricks’. In that cast of beardy and hairy rogues and rascals, Sheahan stood out by not standing out. Brought in to stand shoulder to shoulder with founder members Luke Kelly, Ronnie Drew, Barney McKenna and Ciarán Bourke, Sheahan’s playing brought a touch of elegant class to that gallery. The Dubliners may have sung with gnarly gusto on those full-bodied ballads and rousing airs, but Sheahan’s fiddle added a veneer of the other to the proceedings. Sheahan stood out in other ways too. He was the straight in a usual suspects’ line-up of capital city bohos. He’d finished school, done his apprenticeship with the ESB and was on the way to a life with wife and kids in the suburbs. The music bug was supposed to be for evenings and weekends in the Fidders’ Club. But fate intervened, Kelly split from The Dubliners for England and Sheahan was recruited. The rest is history. Sheahan is the one who has survived those wild days and “Seven Drunken Nights”, the one who is around to tell the tales and crack open his diaries to remember those times when the band would play the Royal Albert Hall in London the night after a gig in Templemore. Today while his hair and beard are undoubtedly whiter, the sound of his violin still catches the grace notes of the tunes in the same light now as then. These days, Sheahan writes poetry as well as music. These poems are old-fashioned and sepia-tinged, reminiscences of old pals and past days. It’s clear when Sheahan talks about his old comrades that he still has considerable fondness for them. Some of the stories may have been told a thousand times already – as stories of this ilk often are – but that doesn’t lessened their emotional impact. Most of all, though, Sheahan is about the music. From adventures and high jinks with The Dubliners in all their various iterations to trading ideas with the new school: From Declan O’Rourke, Damien Dempsey, Glen Hansard to Imelda May. Sheahan always has a glint in his eye, always has clear sight of where the music is going and always has the soul of the tune in his mind’s eye. Jim Carroll

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'The Older the Fiddle, the Sweeter the Tune' In this one-off special, we feature the words, wisdom and music of John Sheahan. At 80 years of age, John is the last surviving member of the world-renowne

'The Older the Fiddle, the Sweeter the Tune' In this one-off special, we feature the words, wisdom and music of John Sheahan. 

John Sheahan speaks to Mark Quinn about Cocooning, The Dubliners and his new solo album 'Flirting Fiddles'. 

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☘️ ＯＵＴ ＮＯＷ - ＮＥＷ ＤＥＢＵＴ ＳＯＬＯ ＡＬＢＵＭ ☘️

John Sheahan – “Flirting Fiddles” (2020)

Venerable fiddle player, national treasure, and iconic Dubliner John Sheahan releases his first solo album Flirting Fiddles. John explains the title, ‘During my 50 years playing with The Dubliners, I have been flirting with different fiddle styles, which has lead to this eclectic mix of compositions. They reflect influences of traditional, swing, baroque and bluegrass.

The sixteen tunes on Flirting Fiddles are both old and new including some classic favourites like ‘The Marino Waltz’ and more recent compositions such as ‘The Winding River’. The tunes have been arranged for both orchestra and string quartet as well as collaborations with fiddlers, guitarists, pianists, pipers and percussionists.

A first solo album is a milestone in any musician’s career, even more so at the age of 80. John Sheahan celebrated this landmark birthday very publically last year with two concerts in Vicar Street in December, with the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins in attendance as guest of honour on 6th. Throughout this evening, John was joined onstage by an array of musical guests, including Glen Hansard, Imelda May, Declan O’Rourke and Ralph McTell, to create a memorable musical celebration of a man who is both beloved and highly respected by his peers.

John is not one to live in the past. Always playing, writing and recording, he continually creates, caught up in the eternal magic of it. He pushes himself outside his comfort zone too, publishing his first poetry collection Fiddle Dreams in 2015 to great acclaim. He still gigs regularly both abroad and at home, and even manages to find time for his favourite hobby, wood-carving. John Sheahan is an inspiration to us all, and we are truly blessed to have him and his immense talent.

https://music.apple.com/ie/album/flirting-fiddles/1509020978

https://open.spotify.com/album/4xTgY8Jgo5xHMgG1xRRzmP?si=2xGzBLwGSmW-3MMqPNTsag

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A debut solo album at 80 - John Sheahan of The Dubliners

John Sheahan, the last surviving member of The Dubliners, talks music, coronavirus and haikus with Joe Dermody

John interviewed by  Joe Dermody for the  Irish Examiner

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John Sheahan - Flirting Fiddles Single

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An Audience With John Sheahan (Presented By John Kelly) Tuesday, 27 January 2015, 6.30pm House of Lords John Sheahan is a notable Irish violinist, tin whistle player, folk musician and composer and the last surviving member of the original and definitive five member line-up of The Dubliners. This intimate and upfront interview with John Kelly will provide fascinating insights into John Sheahan’s life in music over the past five decades. For tickets and more information visit http://ift.tt/14p7OBf http://ift.tt/14p7OBl

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Temple Bar 's TradFest celebtaes its 10th year with a host of gigs around Dublin. The Festival showcases the full spectrum of traditional and folk music and takes place from the 28th January. Video: Daniel O'Connor http://ift.tt/1y2ZrI4

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Captured from The Dubliners On the Road - Live in Germany . I believe it is from around'ish 1995. Enjoy lads! http://ift.tt/1ztySKW

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We're delighted to announce we will be hosting two special interview events for the true fans of John Sheahan and Donovan in the House of Lords during TradFest 2015... - An Audience with John Sheahan Presented by John Kelly, Tuesday 27th January, 6.30pm €15 (or Donovan in Dublin Castle + An Audience with Donovan package €50) - An Audience with Donovan Presented by John Kelly, Friday 30th January, 6.30pm €15 (or John Sheahan, Declan O'Rourke & Susan McKeown in Dublin Castle + An Audience with John Sheahan package €45) Tickets for these special events can be booked through [email protected], very limited capacity! http://ift.tt/1BGQC8Y

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Flying from Denmark to London today to perform with Ralph McTell tonight at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London in celebration of Ralph's 70th Birthday. http://ift.tt/1wgPl71

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Welcome http://ift.tt/15B4kwE

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One Million Dubliners - RTE1 10:15pm tonight. http://ift.tt/1r0xKsr

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The line-up for this year's festival has been announced. http://ift.tt/1xEsiA8

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A Festival showcasing the full spectrum of traditional and folk music in some of Dublin City’s most unique venues. Feel every note… http://ift.tt/1AepUVk