Frankie Kennedy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frankie Kennedy
Frankie Kennedy in the 1970s.
Background information
Born	(1955-09-30)30 September 1955 Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Died	19 September 1994(1994-09-19) (aged 38) Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Genres	Irish traditional folk World music
Occupation(s)	Flautist
Instruments	Flute
Years active	1981–1994
Labels	Gael Linn Green Linnet

Frankie Kennedy (born September 30, 1955 – died September 19, 1994) was a talented musician from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He played the flute and tin whistle. Frankie was also a co-founder of the famous Irish band Altan. He started the band with his wife, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. After he passed away, the popular Frankie Kennedy Winter Music School was created in 1994 to honor him.

About Frankie Kennedy's Life

Frankie's Early Years

Frankie Kennedy grew up with three sisters and one brother. His family often had visitors, including his uncle's father-in-law, Robert Cinnamond. Robert was a singer from Glenavy, County Antrim.

Frankie became interested in Irish traditional music when he was 18 years old. He loved the sounds of bands like Horslips, Planxty, The Chieftains, and The Boys of the Lough. He learned to speak Irish in Belfast. He also often traveled to Gweedore in Donegal to play music with others. This is where he met Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.

Meeting Mairéad and Marriage

When Frankie was 18, he took a summer trip to Gweedore in County Donegal. This area is known as a Gaeltacht, where Irish is spoken. One evening, he went to a music session and met Mairéad. She was a 15-year-old fiddle player. Her father, Proinsias Ó Maonaigh, led the music session.

Frankie and Mairéad liked each other. After his trip, he wrote to her often. A friend told him he should learn an instrument if he wanted to impress Mairéad. So, Frankie got a whistle and taught himself to play. Later, he learned the flute. This instrument was louder, which helped him hear himself during music sessions. His love for Mairéad and his desire to be good at music helped him become a respected flute player.

Frankie Kennedy and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh got married in 1981.

Starting the Band Altan

Frankie Kennedy playing with the band Ragairne on RTÉ television in the early 1980s.

Frankie and Mairéad continued to play music together in Donegal. This was the start of their musical journey. They first recorded music on Albert Fry's album in 1979. Later, they formed a band called Ragairne. Mairéad's brother, Gearóid Ó Maonaigh, played guitar in this group. In 1981, singer Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, who later became known as Enya, joined them.

In 1983, Frankie and Mairéad released an album called Ceol Aduaidh. They were joined by bouzouki player Ciarán Curran and Enya on synthesizer. This album was released on Gael-Linn.

At this time, Frankie and Mairéad were working as teachers in Malahide, north County Dublin. But they played many live shows in 1984 and 1985, especially in the United States. They realized that people loved their "no-compromise traditional music." This encouraged them to stop teaching and focus on music.

The band then added guitarist Mark Kelly. In 1987, they released an album simply called Altan. The name Altan comes from a lake in Donegal. The band's music became very popular. They released three more albums as Altan between 1989 and 1991. The album Altan was produced by Dónal Lunny. He continued to work with Altan on many of their future albums.

Later Life and Passing Away

Frankie Kennedy's grave at Magheragallon Cemetery in Gweedore, County Donegal.

In 1992, Frankie Kennedy was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a serious type of cancer. Even though he was ill, Frankie continued to tour and record with Altan. The band released Island Angel in 1993. They kept touring through 1994, the year he passed away. Frankie had a period of 18 months where his cancer seemed to be gone, but it returned very strongly. He passed away on September 19, 1994, at the age of 38. He died at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

Frankie Kennedy is buried in Gweedore, County Donegal. His funeral was attended by many musicians from around the world. Altan continued to make music and perform after his death, just as Frankie had wished.

Frankie Kennedy's Legacy

His Flute Playing Style

Frankie Kennedy was known as a master of the simple system flute. These flutes are called "simple system" because they don't have as many metal keys as modern concert flutes. For most notes, players cover the holes directly with their fingers. Simple system flutes are very common in Irish traditional music.

Frankie learned to play the flute in his hometown of Belfast. This city was home to many other well-known flute players. Frankie's style was special because he often played tunes from County Donegal. His flute playing fit well with the unique Donegal fiddle tradition. Most of his recorded music is with his wife and the band Altan. He also played on Clannad's album Banba.

His playing was smooth and not as heavily decorated with extra musical touches as some other Irish flute players. However, like Matt Molloy, Frankie often used slightly flattened "blue notes" to add feeling to his music. Frankie played flutes made by Chris Wilkes and Patrick Olwell.

The Frankie Kennedy Winter School

The Frankie Kennedy Winter School (Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy in Irish) was started in December 1994. It was created to remember Frankie and to keep the music of County Donegal alive. This school was an annual event held in Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore), County Donegal. It offered classes for almost two decades, with the last one taking place in December 2013–January 2014. In 2004, the school released a CD called An Ghaoth Aduaidh/The North Wind. This CD featured many famous Irish flute players and honored Frankie. Frankie's mother, Agnes, still attends the festival every year.

A Special Memorial

St. Oliver Plunkett School, where Frankie and Mairéad used to teach, planted a tree in their Garden of Peace to remember Frankie. They planted a Wild Pear tree, which is a type of tree used to make flutes. A special plaque was also made in his honor.

On the day the tree was planted, over 400 students, former students, and staff held a day-long music festival. They wanted to honor Frankie and celebrate his life with music, song, and dance. They also raised money for cancer research and the Hospice Foundation. Mairéad and Altan members Dermot and Ciaran played music for a large audience. It was a very touching and happy day.

Musical Tributes

Many songs have been written and recorded to remember Frankie Kennedy. Here are a few:

• Dan Ar Braz, from the band L'Héritage des Celtes, wrote "Left in Peace" in 1995. This song was a tribute to Frankie.
• Altan recorded several songs about Frankie. These include Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's jig "A Tune for Frankie" on their 1996 album Blackwater. They also recorded "Time Has Passed" and "A Moment in Time" on their 1997 album Runaway Sunday.
• In 1996, Solas wrote and recorded the instrumental piece "Lament for Frankie" to honor him.
• Luka Bloom's song "Cool Breeze" from his 1998 album Salty Heaven was written to remember Frankie's passing.
• Enya's 2000 song "Only Time" was dedicated to Frankie.
• The tune "Dobbin's Flowery Vale" is often linked to Frankie. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh recorded it on her 2009 solo album Imeall.

Frankie Kennedy's Music Albums