Sharon Shannon Receives Civic Reception From Clare County Council

PRLog (Press Release) – Sep 21, 2009 – The Ruan-born accordionist, who began her recording career in 1989, is best known for her collaborations with some of the biggest names in the Irish and Global Music Industry, including Bono, Sinead O'Connor, Jackson Browne, John Prine, Steve Earle, Mark Knopfler, The RTE Concert Orchestra, The Chieftains, The Waterboys, Willie Nelson, Nigel Kennedy, Alisson Krauss and Shane MacGowan.

Sharon Shannon's self titled 1991 album remains the best selling album of traditional Irish music ever released while she became the youngest person ever to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Meteor Awards.

"A Civic Reception is the highest accolade at the disposal of Clare County Council for any individual, group or organisation and one that is - for Sharon Shannon - thoroughly deserved", stated the Mayor of Clare Councillor Tony Mulcahy.

Addressing those gathered at Aras Contae and Chláir in Ennis this evening, the Mayor said: "By demonstrating her most wonderful talent as an accordionist, Sharon has brought great acclaim to the Irish traditional music scene, County Clare and those who have had the pleasure of working with her down through the years. Sharon's versatility as a musician is one of her most outstanding traits and is widely recognised by the global music industry."

"In presenting Sharon Shannon with a Civic Reception, Clare County Council is also recognising Clare's rich talent of Irish traditional musicians who have brought happiness to thousands of people throughout the world.

"By making such a rich contribution to the development and promotion of Irish traditional music, Sharon has honoured her contemporaries and those who have come before her. When speaking of figures that have contributed to making County Clare synonymous with Irish traditional music, I know the name Sharon Shannon will forever be mentioned in the same sentence as the likes of Willie Clancy, The Russell Brothers, the Tulla Ceili Band, the Kilfenora Ceili Band and Martin Hayes", added the Mayor.

Sharon Shannon played festivals all over Europe including Womad and Glastonbury in 2009, and has recently completed a sell-out UK tour and Irish nationwide tour with guests including Shane MacGowan, Mundy and Dessie O' Halloran. Sharon performed at the Rose of Tralee Festival 2009 and will be touring Ireland in October and December 2009. She is scheduled to perform at the prestigious Sydney and Perth Festivals in Australia in January 2010.

Her new album 'Saints And Scoundrels' is due for release this Friday, September 25th 2009.

Today's Civic Reception took place following the September monthly meeting of Clare County Council at Àras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, County Clare.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:
- Cllr. Tony Mulcahy, Mayor of Clare (086-2436345) is available for interview and further comment
- High resolution images of the Civic Reception are available on request
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com

Schoolboy crowned accordion champ

Don Frame

SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

FORGET chart-toppers like Little Boots, Dizzee Rascal and Kings of Leon.

The only music that matters to schoolboy Sean Scally is played on the Irish piano accordion.

And now he has been crowned under-12 world champion after taking on the best at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil competition in Tullamore - Ireland's largest cultural and musical gathering.

Sean, from South Reddish, Stockport, began playing at five, encouraged by his Irish grandparents.

He quickly embraced the culture, and is also an accomplished Irish dancer and captain of a local Gaelic football team. Sean, who has been studying music at the St Wilfrid's branch of the Irish cultural movement Comhaltas, based at the Irish World Heritage Centre in Cheetham Hill, started his playing days on tin whistle.

Mum Collette said he found the piano difficult and instead tried the piano accordion.

Talented

His teacher Michelle O'Leary said: "He's incredibly talented. I knew he was going to be very good, but it's terrific to become a genuine world-beater."

Sean, a pupil at the local St Anne's RC School has made it to the finals of the Fleadh for the past three years.

"It was great to win it this year because everyone was really talented," he said. "I was ecstatic when I won it. It was a great feeling."

Mum Collette said: "I suppose it does seem a little strange to some that a lad of Sean's age is so much into Irish music, but his dad Pat and both sets of grandparents are Irish, so he grew up with that kind of influence.

"He really took to the piano accordion.

"For the last two years he's won the All Britain piano accordion championship for his age group, and it was wonderful that he got the world championship.

"His older brother, Donal, 15, is also a keen musician and they regularly play together. We were all over there in Tullamore to see Sean win, and it was particularly good for us because that's where his dad originally comes from."


http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1137514_schoolboy_crowned_accordion_champ

The Green Groves Of Erin/The Ivy Leaf

William J. Mullaly-The Green Groves Of Erin/The Ivy Leaf

Recorded on November 22, 1926 in Camden, New Jersey. Mullaly plays the concertina and is accompanied by the piano of Edward Lee on this version of a medley of Irish reels. According to Philippe Varlet and Richard Spottswood, Mullaly was the only Irish concertina player to be recorded prior to World War II.