Lifestyle – Letterfrack sisters Liz and Yvonne Kane were first captivated by the music of Kilconnell composer Paddy Fahey as children. The two renowned fiddlers have performed all over the world, firstly with Sharon Shannon and later as a duet, playing the traditional music they love. Their new album is in honour of the East Galway legend who inspired them as they tell JUDY MURPHY.

There’s a warmth and sense of fun about Liz and Yvonne Keane that’s infectious.

As they talk about their latest album, In Memory of Paddy Fahey, the fiddler sisters from Letterfrack are fulsome in their praise of the composer from Kilconnell in the East of the county, who played such a crucial role in their lives since their childhood when they began learning music.

A legend in the world of traditional music, Paddy Fahey died in May 2019 at the age of 102, leaving a huge body of work behind him. For the most part, he was a private man who shied away from the limelight. He had a huge fondness for the Kane sisters, though, and when he was awarded Composer of the year at the Gradam Ceoil TG4 in 2001, he invited them to accompany him for his performance that night.

To this day, it’s a memory Yvonne and Liz cherish. And they have since added a new one to their memory bank.

They launched In Memory of Paddy Fahy in the Hill pub, Kiltormer, which is owned by his nephew Donie Campbell, last month. At the event Paddy’s son, John, joined the Kanes for several tunes. John rarely plays in pubic and to have him take part in their concert, celebrating his late father’s music was a special moment for Liz and Yvonne.

They are hoping he’ll  join them next week too when they have the Connemara launch, on Wednesday, September 21, as part of this year’s Clifden Arts Festival.

That’ll be its third launch, they say, laughing as they are just back from playing on a Mediterranean  cruise with Joanie Madden and Cherish the Ladies, where they also gave it an outing.

And In Memory of Paddy Fahy deserves as many outings as possible, because in every regard, it’s a treasure. It’s the fourth album from the Kane sisters and has 15 of his tunes, alongside some from other composers as well as several of their own and traditional airs including Eochaill and The Stone Outside Dan Murphy’s Door.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.