Some relations from my father's side in County Clare

Photo of my Grandmother, Ellen Spellacy Keane, her daughter, my Aunt "Baby" and her daughters Margaret and Anita. My Grandmother was a Spellacy from Kilmaley, Co. Clare (Cill Mháille, Co.an Chláir). Her daughter Baby was a fine concertina player and notice her little daughter Anita who would later marry John Garry, also from Lavalla, Ballynacally (Baile na Caillí) and from a very musical family. They have a grown-up daughter Sheila Garry who is a well known fiddle player with beautiful CDs to her credit and is a past member of "The Kilfenora Céilí Band". The other two brothers of the Garry's are my dear friends Mike and Jimmy who live here in New York and are also related through their Mother's side to Sharon Shannon.

My Father and his Brother Walking Down O'Connell St in the 1950s

This is my Father Patrick and one of his brothers Mick. It was Mick that was somewhat responsible for me playing the box. He was a member of the Garda ( police ) at Stores St. Garda station and had purchased a Hohner Double-Ray accordion to help pass the time at the barracks. He then decided that 92 Errigal would be a more friendly venue where he could store (hide) the box under the sofa and would play it when he came to visit on weekends.During the week I had a free hand as I taught myself to play , starting with one finger, being very careful to put it back exactly as I had found it. This picture of them was taken as they walked past Cleary's department store on O'Connell St. during the late 50's.

The Keanes of Errigal Road

This is a family photo of my Father Patrick, my Mother, Mary "Molly" and Seán, my Brother. That's me on my Mother's knee. Both my parents were fine fiddle players and their hearts and souls were in the music. My Father was from a place called Lavalla, Ballynacally, Co. Clare. He grew up in a house full of music and his sister "Baby" had great style on the concertina. My Mother was from Curroole, Newtowncashel, Co. Longford. Her maiden name was Hanly and two of her brothers Peter and James were great musicians. My Father came to Dublin in his late teens and got a job working shift-work for Clondalkin Paper Mills; and as a young woman my Mother worked for The Ormond Hotel on Ormond Quay Dublin. They instilled in us their love and respect for the music and my memories are as bright today , as if it were only yesterday, of the hundreds of great sessions with all those legends of the music that came to visit the Keanes at 92 Errigal Road, Drimnagh.