Civic reception honour for Sharon

SHE has performed in front of tens of thousands of people at Croke Park and played with some of the biggest names in music, but for world-renowned musician Sharon Shannon, it was a visit to the headquarters of Clare County Council that was her most nerve-wracking moment.

On Monday, the Ruan-born accordionist was honoured with a civic reception from Clare County Council at Aras Contae and Chláir. She told those gathered, “I am the most nervous I have been in all of my life”.
But she had no need to worry, as surrounded by her family, friends and neighbours she was highly praised by all on the council and officials for her contribution to music. The floor of the council chambers vibrated as all tapped their feet along with the tunes she performed alongside Eoin O’Neill. PJ Murrihy also played a rendition of Sharon on the Box, a song inspired by the lady herself.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, Sharon explained that while she is used to performing in front of large crowds, the civic reception is a “once in a lifetime moment”.
“When I’m playing tunes I don’t have to talk and the little bit I have to do I’m used to it. But it’s not every night you get something like this, I just don’t know what to say. I’m absolutely delighted to be receiving this honour but I was nervous as well, thinking about what I was going to say. It’s very hard to let people know how much I really appreciate something like this. Genuinely, I’m very humbled,” she said.
Now living in Galway, she is still very much a Clare woman saying, “it’s my home” before launching into a passionate cry of “up the Banner”.
This year she became the youngest person to win the lifetime achievement award at the Meteor Awards, but she says that the civic reception is an even greater accolade. “Something like this is so much more personal. The Meteor Award was an amazing honour but you’re among loads of other people who are getting awards as well. Something like this is huge. It really is an amazing honour,” she said.
At the reception, Mayor of Clare Tony Mulcahy described Sharon as being a “great source of pride to the people of her native Ruan and indeed County Clare”.
A civic reception is the highest accolade at the disposal of Clare County Council for any individual, group or organisation.
The mayor told those gathered, “By demonstrating her most wonderful talent as an accordionist, Sharon has brought great acclaim to the Irish traditional music scene, County Clare and those who have had the pleasure of working with her down through the years. Sharon’s versatility as a musician is one of her most outstanding traits and is widely recognised by the global music industry.”
He went on to congratulate her on her many awards, including the lifetime achievement award at the Meteors.
“I know that Sharon’s desire to write new music, perform live and collaborate with other artists across a wide range of musical genres will ensure her status as one of Ireland’s most recognisable and revered musicians for many years to come,” he said.
Councillor Mulcahy added that in presenting Sharon with a civic reception, Clare County Council is also recognising Clare’s rich talent of Irish traditional musicians who have brought happiness to thousands of people throughout the world.
“By making such a rich contribution to the development and promotion of Irish traditional music, Sharon has honoured her contemporaries and those who have come before her.
“When speaking of figures that have contributed to making County Clare synonymous with Irish traditional music, I know the name Sharon Shannon will forever be mentioned in the same sentence as the likes of Willie Clancy, The Russell Brothers, the Tulla Céilí Band, the Kilfenora Céilí Band and Martin Hayes,” he added.
Sharon, who began her recording career in 1989, is best known for her collaborations with some of the biggest names in the Irish and global music industry, including Bono, Sinéad O’Connor, Jackson Browne, John Prine, Steve Earle, Mark Knopfler, The RTÉ Concert Orchestra, The Chieftains, The Waterboys, Willie Nelson, Nigel Kennedy, Alisson Krauss and Shane MacGowan.
Sharon’s self-titled 1991 album remains the best-selling album of traditional Irish music ever released. She played festivals all over Europe, including Womad and Glastonbury in 2009 and has recently completed a sell-out UK tour and Irish nationwide tour with guests including Shane MacGowan, Mundy and Dessie O’Halloran.
Sharon performed at the Rose of Tralee Festival 2009 and will be touring Ireland in October and December 2009. She is scheduled to perform at the Sydney and Perth festivals in Australia in January.
Her new album, Saints And Scoundrels, is due to be released this Friday.