Maidhc Dainín has rarely let the accordion out of his hands since his first arrived to his house by post in the early fifties. Having picked up and perfected a few tunes at home Maidhc graduated to playing for dances organised for Irish language students in Muiríoch hall, three miles from his native Carrachán.

Prospects of finding meaningful employment in West Kerry being very slim during the late fifties, Maidhc found, like so many others, that he had no choice but emigrate. He spent a year in London (1958) before moving to Chicago where he spent ten years of his life. In Chicago Maidhc met with and played with many of the great traditional Irish musicians that lived there. He would cite legendary South-Galway box-player, Joe Cooley, as his major influence from this period.

Returning to home to Carrachán in 1969 Maidhc was soon in demand in the local pubs and hotels, especially where ‘sets’ were danced.

A man of many talents, Maidhc, as well as being a fine musician and singer, is a well-known author in his native Irish language, with eleven books published so far. His autobiography, ‘A Thig Ná Tit Orm’ is studied by thousands of students each year as it is on the syllabus for the Leaving Certificate (State Examinations). He has, of late, turned his hand(ear?) to composing music, though, to borrow a line from Donegal fiddler Johnny Doherty, he wouldn’t recognise a crotchet from a hurley stick! You can sample some of his newly composed tunes on this recording.

Maidhc is an employee of Kerry Group, driving a milk truck for them between Dingle and their factory in Listowel. Watch out for his distinctive head of ‘ash-blonde’ hair behind the wheel of his truck if you ever happen to be travelling this road! Be sure to keep well in to the left as music is probably foremost on his mind!

Caoimhín was born in Chicago, where his parents had met and married. His parents decided to return to Carrachán in West Kerry where Caoimhín spent the rest of his formative years.

Caoimhín attended his local national school in Baile an Mhódhraigh. It was here that he received tuition from the teaching staff took a special interest in music and song. Caoimhín was exposed to plenty of music and songs at home also of course and found little difficulty in learning by ear some of what he was hearing. By the age of ten he was playing regularly in pubs and hotels with his father, Maidhc Dainín.

Caoimhín now works as a teacher and resides in Bearna, Co. Galway. He has played at music festivals in Brittany, Galicia and in Germany with various musicians and groups from the Conamara area.

He presented a music programme, ‘Buille ar Bhuille’, on Raidió na Gaeltachta during the Summer of 2001.

Andrea Power comes from Lancashire, England originally but has been residing in the Dingle area for a number of years now. Andrea makes her own bodhráns which she sells from her workshop on Dingle’s Green Street.  

Con Durham has been living in West Kerry for so long that at this stage he probably forgets that he is from Dublin originally (a case of selective amnesia, perhaps!) He is in demand as a piper and can be heard playing at various locations on the Dingle Peninsula. He has brought his music to parts of Europe and to the United States both as a solo performer and as a member of The Quare Fellas. Con came first in the Oireachtas piping competition of 1980.  

Liam is probably best-known as the lead-singer of one of Ireland’s most popular groups, ‘The Hothouse Flowers’ . Liam and his family have strong links with the West Kerry Gaeltacht and indeed it was in this area that Liam and Maidhc got to know each other. Maidhc used to play in Dún an Óir Hotel where Liam as a sat in on sessions regularly. He plays keyboards, harp and bodhrán on this recording.  

An Australian of Irish ancestry, Steve Cooney has been living in Ireland for many years. He spent a number of years living in the parish of Moore where he got to know and play with the local musicians, one of those being Maidhc Dainín. One of Ireland’s leading guitarists, he is also a much sought-after and highly regarded producer, having worked with many of the big names in the Irish music industry.

Greg, a great friend of Steve’s from Australia, happened to be in Ireland during the Spring of 2001. He got roped into adding percussion to two tracks on this recording!

  Back to the top