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IRISH EXAMINER | September 2nd, 2020
T THHEE IIRRIISSHH EEXXAAMMIINNEERR for Radio Éireann in 1958, at the age
of five. This early start inevitably
meant that Keane would have a
M MUUSSIICC AANNDD EENNTTEERRTTAAIINNMMEENNTT career in music. Her brother, Seán,
also went on to enjoy a successful
music career
In 1975, she co-founded
G GUUIIDDEE:: RROOCCKK,, CCOOUUNNTTRRYY,, JJAAZZZZ,, the traditional Irish band De Dannan,
and they released their debut
album Dé Danann in that same year.
T TRRAADD,, FFOOLLKK,, BBAALLLLAADDSS,, BBLLUUEESS,, Soon thereafter, she married multi-
instrumentalist John Faulkner, with
whom she would subsequently
C CLLAASSSSIICCAALL AANNDD LLOOTTSS MMOORREE record three albums of folk music.
Keane lived and worked in London
for several years with Faulkner,
Welcome to our regular music and entertainment guide, brought before they moved to Ireland in the early 1980s. They worked on a series of film
scores and programs for the BBC and formed two successful bands, The Reel
to you by Paddy McCarthy for your reading enjoyment Union and Kinvara.
During this period Keane recorded her first solo album, “There Was a Maid” in
1978. This was followed by two other releases, “Broken Hearted I’ll
Wander” (1979) and “Farewell to Eirinn” (1980), which gave credit to Faulkner. In
the mid-1980s she rejoined De Dannan and recorded the
albums “Anthem” and “Ballroom” with them. Keane turned her attention, once
again, to her solo career in 1988. It saw the release of the eponymous “Dolores
Keane” album. Her follow-up album “A Lion in a Cage”, which hit the shelves in
1989, featured a song written by Faulkner called “Lion in a Cage” protesting the
imprisonment of Nelson Mandela. It served as Keane’s second Irish number one
and she performed the hit at the celebration of his release. This exposure expanded
Keane’s reputation and popularity worldwide. A new facet was added to Dolores’
career when she played the female lead in the Dublin production of Brendan
Behan’s “The Hostage”, a new translation by Niall Tóibín and Michael Scott, the
opening night of which was attended by Mary Robinson, the President of Ireland
at the time. In 1992, Keane was among the many female Irish singers to lend their
music to the record-smashing anthology “A Woman’s Heart”. The album, which
also featured Eleanor McEvoy, Mary Black, Frances Black, Sharon
Shannon and Maura O’Connell, went on to become the biggest-selling album
in Irish history. “A Woman’s Heart Vol. 2” was released in late 1994 and emulated
its predecessor in album charts the world over. Also in 1994, a solo album, enti-
tled “Solid Ground”, was released on the Shanachie label (available on Dara
Records) and received critical acclaim in Europe and America. Keane married musi-
cian John Faulkner, with whom she had worked on many occasions, in 1977. After
a very difficult pregnancy, Keane gave birth to their first child, Joseph. He was born
with Bardet–Biedl syndrome, which causes obesity and failing vision, though he
has been spared intellectual disability. Dolores and John’s marriage ended in 1988.
Here is a band that is close to my heart and that is Franks and Walters from Her current partner is Barry “Bazza” Farmer.
Cork City,Ireland. They were first recommended to me by my friend Jack Lyons We are all so happy that Dolores is back in good health. Dolores is one of my
known as (Irish Jack) the retired postman who inspired one of the greatest bands in favorite singers of Irish songs in the world and she is a legend in Ireland as one of
the world, The Who, and I will tell you all about him next week. Here is the news the greatest folk singers so let’s hope we might see her performing again.
on Franks and Walters as the original band line-up included Paul Linehan (as vocal- The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, north London,
ist/bassist), his brother Niall Linehan (as guitarist) and Ashley Keating (on drums). in 1964 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most
Niall Linehan was replaced as guitarist in 2004 by Kevin Pedreschi, who was in-turn influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British
replaced by Rory Murphy in 2010. Cian Corbett joined on keyboard duties in 2005. rhythm and blues and Merseybeat, and were briefly part of the British Invasion of
Signing for the Setanta label in 1991, the group debuted with the release EP1, the United States until their touring ban in 1965 (as a result of constant fighting
and the lead track “Fashion Crisis Hits New York” became an indie hit. The follow- between the brothers). Their third single, the Ray Davies-penned “You Really Got
up EP “EP.2” was released soon after, which was followed by the band’s signing to Me”, became an international hit, topping the charts in the United Kingdom and
the Go! Discs label where The Franks partnered with producer Edwyn Collins to reaching the Top 10 in the United States.
record the “Happy Busman” EP. They found success in the UK, and following a Their music was influenced by a wide range of genres, including
tour in support of Carter USM, an Ian Broudie remix of the LP song “After All” American R&B and rock and roll initially, and later adopting British music hall, folk,
reached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at No. 11, and it also and country. They gained a reputation for reflecting English culture and lifestyle,
peaked at No. 5 in the Irish chart. The group appeared on BBC Television's Top of fuelled by Ray Davies’ wittily observational writing style. The Kinks have had five
the Pops in support of the single. Top 10 singles on the US Billboard chart. Nine of their albums charted in the Top
The band returned to the studio in August 2011 to work on a new album – 40. In the UK, they have had seventeen Top 20 singles and five Top 10 albums.
released in March 2012. The first single from this album, entitled “Indie Lovesong”, Four Kinks albums have been certified gold by the RIAA and the band have sold
was released on Valentine’s Day, 2012 and was supported by a UK tour. Their sixth over 50 million records worldwide.
studio album was named “Greenwich Mean Time” and released on March 9, 2012. Among numerous honours, they
The album was well received and supported by tours in Europe, USA and Japan. In received the Ivor Novello Award for
September 2012 Frank and Walters undertook on a 20th anniversary celebration “Outstanding Service to British
tour marking their debut album “Trains, Boats and Planes”, and in May 2015 Music”. In 1990, the original four
released a single titled “Look at Us Now”. The band embarked on a celebratory members of The Kinks were inducted
tour during October 2017, to mark 20 years since the release of their second into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,
album “Grand Parade”. In March 2018, approximately 25 years after its original as well as the UK Music Hall of Fame
release, a cover of the Frank and Walter’s single “After All” featured in the TV in November 2005. In 2018, after years
series “The Young Offenders”, that is a big hit in Ireland and England and subse- of ruling out a reunion, Ray Davies
quently charted at No. 2 in the iTunes downloads chart for Ireland. When they and Dave Davies announced they
come here Stateside don’t miss them as you will not be disappointed. were working to reform the Kinks.
Dolores Keane is an Irish folk singer and occasional actress. She was a founding Now that is good news as they are
member of the group De Dannan and has since embarked on a solo career. Keane again one of my favorite groups and I
was born in a small village called Sylane (near Tuam) in rural County Galway in the hope to see them performing when
west of Ireland. From the age of four she was raised by her aunts Rita and Sarah this pandemic is under control and we
Keane, also well-known sean-nós singers. Keane started her singing at a very young are all allowed back again at live con-
age, due to the influence of her musical aunts. She made her first recording certs. C