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 May 19, 1939) is a famous Irish musician and composer. He plays the fiddle and many other instruments. John joined the popular band The Dubliners in 1964. He played with them for a long time, until 2012. The band stopped using the name 'The Dubliners' after Barney McKenna, one of its first members, passed away. John Sheahan is the last living member of the main group of The Dubliners.
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John Sheahan's Early Life and Music Training
John Sheahan was born in Dublin, Ireland, on May 19, 1939. His father was a police officer. John went to school at the Christian Brothers in Marino, Dublin. There, he started learning music. His first instrument was the tin whistle.
John learned music with other future famous musicians. These included Paddy Moloney, who later started The Chieftains. When John was about 12, he found a fiddle at home. He quickly learned to play it using what he knew from the tin whistle. His parents really encouraged him.
He then went to the Municipal School of Music in Dublin. This school is now called the Dublin Institute of Technology. John studied classical violin there for over five years.
Developing a Unique Musical Style
While studying classical music, John still loved Irish traditional music. Sometimes, he would add his own traditional touches to classical pieces. His teacher did not always like this "composing." However, John kept mixing classical techniques with traditional playing. This helped him create his own special style.
His unique style won him many awards at 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.
John Sheahan's Time with The Dubliners
Before joining The Dubliners, John played with different bands. He met the members of The Dubliners in the early 1960s. At that time, the band included Ronnie Drew, Barney McKenna, Ciarán Bourke, and Luke Kelly.
John joined the band in 1964, along with Bobby Lynch. Both musicians often played during the break at concerts. They would then 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. John Sheahan, however, stayed with the band. He is the only member of The Dubliners who had formal music training.
John played with The Dubliners for 50 years. After Barney McKenna passed away in 2012, John announced the band would retire. This happened at the end of their 50th-anniversary tour. The last members of the band were John Sheahan, Sean Cannon, Eamonn Campbell, Patsy Watchorn, and Gerry O'Connor.
John Sheahan's Career After The Dubliners
After The Dubliners retired, John Sheahan continued to make 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 aired on RTÉ. It was called John Sheahan – A Dubliner. In May, he visited Dundalk Primary School. He spoke to the students about his career with The Dubliners. In October 2013, John appeared on The Late Late Show. He played a jig on the tin whistle with Paddy Moloney from The Chieftains.
John mentioned he was working on a solo album. This album would feature songs he had written over 50 years. He was also writing a book of his poetry. In January 2014, he performed at the Templebar Tradfest in Dublin City Hall.
In April 2014, John Sheahan won two Irish Film and Television Awards. These awards were for his TV documentary, John Sheahan – A Dubliner. On April 10, 2014, John performed at Ceiliúradh. This was a special event at the Royal Albert Hall during the Irish President's visit to the UK. He sang a part of "The Auld Triangle" and played the fiddle.
In June 2014, he performed at a concert in Dublin. This concert raised money for cystic fibrosis. In September 2014, he played with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. This was for Culture Night 2014 in Meeting House Square.
On September 13, 2024, John Sheahan and Phil Coulter announced a new live show. They shared the news on The Late Late Show. The show is called The Dubliners Encore. Phil Coulter is producing it, and it will tour Europe in 2025.
Other Musical Contributions
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 No. 4 in Ireland. Many other artists later recorded this tune.
He also released an album of his own instrumental songs. This album, called "In Our Own Time," came out in 1987. He created it with classical guitarist Michael Howard. In 2008, another album of his compositions was released. It was titled "The Marino Suite." On this album, John's fiddle playing is supported by the Young European Strings Chamber Orchestra.
John has also been a guest musician on many albums. He has worked with a wide range of artists and groups, including:
- 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
