John Sheahan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Sheahan
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Sheahan on stage, c. 2011
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| Background information | |
| Born | 19 May 1939 Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Irish Folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Fiddle, tin whistle, guitar, concertina, mandolin, violin,vocals |
| Associated acts | The Dubliners,The New Triangle |
John Sheahan, born on May 19, 1939, is a famous Irish musician and composer. He is best known for being a long-time member of the popular Irish folk band, The Dubliners. He joined the group in 1964. John played with The Dubliners until 2012. The band decided to stop using their name after Barney McKenna, one of the original members, passed away. John Sheahan is the last living member of the main lineup of The Dubliners.
Contents
Early Life and Music Training
Growing Up in Dublin
John Sheahan was born in Dublin, Ireland, on May 19, 1939. His father was a police officer in Dublin. John's great-uncle, Patrick Sheahan, was also a policeman. In 1905, Patrick sadly died trying to save a worker in a sewer. There is a statue in Dublin today that honors Patrick.
Learning to Play Music
John went to school at the Christian Brothers in Marino, Dublin. This is where he first started learning music. He began by playing the tin whistle. Other famous musicians, like Paddy Moloney from The Chieftains, also learned music there.
When John was about 12 years old, he became very interested in music. He found a fiddle at home and started to play it. His parents were very supportive of his musical journey. He then went to the Municipal School of Music in Dublin. There, he studied classical violin for more than five years.
Developing a Unique Style
While studying classical music, John also loved Irish traditional music. He would sometimes add his own touches to classical pieces. His teacher did not always like these "improvements." However, John kept using his classical training in his traditional playing. This helped him create his own special style. He even won awards at different Irish music festivals called feiseanna.
John was also interested in American bluegrass fiddle music. This style also influenced his playing. You can hear this in songs like "Flop Eared Mule." He recorded this tune with The Dubliners several times.
Career with The Dubliners
Joining the Famous Band
Before joining The Dubliners, John Sheahan played with many other bands. He met The Dubliners in the early 1960s. At that time, the band included Ronnie Drew, Barney McKenna, Ciarán Bourke, and Luke Kelly.
John joined The Dubliners in 1964, along with another musician named Bobby Lynch. They often played during the break at concerts. Then, they would stay on stage for the second half of the show. When Luke Kelly moved to England in 1964, Bobby Lynch filled in for him. When Luke Kelly came back in 1965, Bobby Lynch left, but John Sheahan stayed. John is the only member of The Dubliners who had formal music training.
The Dubliners' Retirement
After 50 years of playing, The Dubliners decided to retire. This decision came in late 2012, after the death of founding member Barney McKenna. John Sheahan announced that their 50th-anniversary tour would be their last. The final members of the band were John Sheahan, Sean Cannon, Eamonn Campbell, Patsy Watchorn, and Gerry O'Connor.
After The Dubliners
New Projects and Performances
After The Dubliners retired, John Sheahan continued to play music. In 2013, he toured Denmark with Jane and Shane. They played classical music and famous Irish jigs like The Irish Washerwoman. He also joined informal music sessions in pubs in Dublin. Sometimes, Luke Kelly's brother, Jim Kelly, would join these sessions.
In April 2013, a TV show about John's life and career aired on RTÉ. It was called John Sheahan – A Dubliner. In May, he visited Dundalk Primary School to talk about his time with The Dubliners. In October 2013, John appeared on The Late Late Show with Paddy Moloney from The Chieftains. They played a jig together on the tin whistle. John has also mentioned that he is writing a book of his poetry. He performed at the Templebar Tradfest in Dublin City Hall in January 2014.
Awards and Special Events
In April 2014, John Sheahan won two Irish Film and Television Awards for his TV documentary, John Sheahan – A Dubliner. On April 10, 2014, John was part of a special event called Ceiliúradh. He and other Irish musicians performed at the Royal Albert Hall during an Irish presidential visit to the UK. He sang a part of "The Auld Triangle" and played his fiddle with other musicians.
In June 2014, he performed at a special concert in Dublin. This concert raised money to help people with cystic fibrosis. In September 2014, he played with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra for Culture Night 2014.
Recent Work
In 2020, when he was 80 years old, John Sheahan released his first solo album. This album features many songs he had written over the past 50 years but had never recorded.
More recently, on September 13, 2024, John Sheahan and Phil Coulter announced a new live stage show. The show is called The Dubliners Encore. It is being produced by Phil Coulter and will tour Europe in 2025.
Other Contributions
Composing His Own Music
John Sheahan has always enjoyed writing his own music. In the 1980s, one of his tunes became a big hit. It was called "The Marino Waltz" and reached number 4 on the music charts in Ireland. Many other artists later played this tune.
He also released an album of his own instrumental songs. This album, called "In Our Own Time," was made with classical guitarist Michael Howard in 1987. In 2008, another album of only John's compositions was released. It was called "The Marino Suite." On this album, the Young European Strings Chamber Orchestra played along with his fiddle.
Guest Appearances
John Sheahan has also played as a guest musician on many other artists' albums. Some of the famous artists and groups he has worked with include:
- Mary Black
- Kate Bush
- Sinéad O'Connor
- U2
- The Pogues
- Shane MacGowan
- Ronan Keating
- Fil Campbell
- Cherish the Ladies
- Liam Clancy
- Danú
- Ronnie Drew
- Danny Doyle
- Dublin City Ramblers
- Damien Dempsey
- Declan O'Rourke
- Foster & Allen
- Finbar Furey
- The Fureys
- Andy Irvine
- Jim McCann
- Daniel O'Donnell
- Paddy Reilly
- Ralph McTell
- André Rieu
- Terence Trent D'Arby
- Patsy Watchorn
- Whipping Boy
- Glen Hansard
