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Beautiful Music in Clare

By
Paul Keating
,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 1:05 AM
Updated Thursday, July 23, 2009, 5:45 PM
Read more: County Clare, Johnny Doran, John Kelly


MILTOWN MALBAY - The sun was declining into a calm Atlantic Ocean and level with the Cliffs of Moher as I made my way down the scenic west coast of Clare on a brilliant late spring Saturday night for a night of majestic uilleann piping.

Given that it was still April, it didn't have anything to do with the famous Willie Clancy Summer School that dominates these shores come the first week of July. Rather, it was the annual Doran Centenary Piping Tionol that was paying homage to the legacy of Johnny and Felix Doran, the pipers from the traveling community, or pavees, in another parlance.

In its second year at the beautiful Bell Bridge Hotel in Spanish Point overlooking the rolling waves of the strand there, the weekend program was marking the 100th year of the birth of Johnny Doran, who captivated musicians all over Ireland in an abbreviated life.

Organized over three days (April 25-27) by Oliver O'Connell, Mickey Dunne, Michael and Leo Richard and supported by Na Piobairi Uilleann and the Arts Council of Ireland, it sought to acknowledge the legacy of the Dorans, particularly in the home of traditional music in Clare where they inspired local musicians like the late Willie Clancy from Miltown and John Kelly Senior from Kilbaha.

Foremost on the bill was a special guest from America, Paddy Keenan, himself a travelling piper resident in the U.S. for a number of years who arrived Friday in time to give the opening the first night and perform in the gala Saturday evening performance.

A roadside accident a couple of years prior led to Doran's early demise in January of 1950 at the age of only 42. That same month and year Keenan was born, and a piping legacy was awaiting him first with the Bothy Band and then his own solo career highlighted by his recording of the Long Grazing Acre as he was part of that traveling music community that gave so much music all around Ireland.

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Beautiful Music in Clare | Irish Music | IrishCentral


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