Concert celebrating the Music of Brian O’Kane
On 15 March, Dundalk Institute of Technology will host a special concert celebrating the music of Brian O’Kane, a member of Dundalk’s legendary Siamsa Céilí Band at 7pm in the MacAnna Theatre. The concert takes place fifty years after he was part of the Siamsa Céilí Band that won the All-Ireland title for the first time and went on to achieve three-in-a-row.
Dr Adèle Commins, Head of Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music, noted
"We were delighted that Brian has brought his music to us and that our students have the opportunity to celebrate this area’s musical heritage. Having travelled widely in recent times, our musicians are always delighted to celebrate and present their local musical heritage."
Originally from Monaghan, Brian O’Kane is a noted composer of marches and hornpipes for céilí bands. He is married to Pat Gardiner, a fiddle player from Dundalk. She is the daughter of the legendary John Joe Gardiner from Co. Sligo who influenced the music of the town during his time here. As well as playing with the famous Siamsa Céilí Band who won the ‘three-in-a-row’ All-Ireland (1967-1969), Brian and Pat also founded the Fodhla Céilí Band in 1974. His son Don is now Chairman of the John Joe Gardiner branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Dundalk where his own daughter Sarah is now learning. Brian’s tunes remain popular amongst céilí bands to the present and were performed by All-Ireland finalists the Templemore Céilí Band in Sligo in 2015.
The concert, Marching in Tradition, will feature a number of Brian’s compositions as well as tunes recorded by the Siamsa and Fódhla Céilí Bands performed by staff and students on the BA (Hons) Applied Music programme at Dundalk Institute of Technology. Dr Daithí Kearney, Director of the DkIT Ceol Oirghialla Traditional Music Ensemble, notes ‘Songs and tunes will celebrate Brian’s links with Dundalk, Monaghan and Wicklow and some of his many musical friends from Dundalk are also celebrated including John Joe Gardiner, Rory Kennedy, Brendan Gaughran and Kevin O’Callaghan amongst others, which will inform current students of their importance and Dundalk’s musical heritage.’
Dundalk’s musical heritage is much greater than is often recognised and céilí bands were a prominent part of that culture in the 1960s. Amongst the influential figures to have lived here have been the Sligo fiddle player John Joe Gardiner. Known as ‘the Boss’, John Joe was part of the Siamsa Céilí Band that won the All-Ireland title three times in a row—a rare and distinguished feat for a band! That band also featured Brian O’Kane alongside Brendan Gaughran, Pat and Pauline Gardiner, Kathleen Harrington, Rory Kennedy, Joe McKevitt, Matt Molloy and Kevin O’Callaghan.
The Siamsa Céilí Band was an inspiration to others and Brendan, Rory, Kevin and Rose were amongst a dedicated group of teachers in the area. In 1989, céilí bands from Dundalk won all age-groups at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, an almost unique occurrence. The Siamsa Céilí Band won the senior title again in 1990, while the Táin Céílí Band represented Louth when winning another three-in-a-row from 1998-2000.
Dundalk’s traditional music heritage continues today. Irish traditional music is a core component of the BA (Hons) Applied Music at Dundalk Institute of Technology, which attracts excellent young musicians from around the country. The DkIT Ceol Oirghialla Traditional Music Ensemble has travelled internationally, promoting Louth and its culture. These international tours have reinforced the internationalisation of education for our students at DkIT, raised the profile of the Institute and the region around the world and provided invaluable opportunities for students to gain industry and teaching experience.
Today, there are two branches of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann based in Dundalk—Craobh Dhún Dealgan and Craobh JJ Gardiner—and a regional resource centre at the Oriel Centre Dundalk Gaol, while Drogheda have been proposed as a potential location for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the largest traditional music festival in Ireland. Young groups are already preparing for this year’s fleadhanna cheoil, including the County Fleadh in Dundalk, and the concert at DkIT provides an opportunity to celebrate those who have had success in the past.
To reserve seats for Marching in Tradition and other musical events and programmes at the Institute see www.dkit.ie/music or contact [email protected] or 042 9370280.
