A Merriman first for Sharon Shannon

RUAN accordion player Sharon Shannon is constantly pushing out the boundaries when it comes to performing. For almost three decades, Sharon has built up world renown and really made the accordion a cool instrument, with thousands of teenagers and children choosing it as their main instrument due to her influence.
She has collaborated with more musicians, through all musical genres, than one interview could fit in, but most notably with Bono, Sinéad O’Connor, The Chieftains, The Waterboys, Nigel Kennedy and Shane MacGowan.
She is held in such high esteem that she was invited to entertain former US President Bill Clinton, as well as the The Sultan of Brunei in Australia.
Over the years, she has had multi-platinum album sales and has had several number-one albums, singles and DVDs. Sharon is also an accomplished composer and has written an album of traditional tunes for full concert orchestra arrangement.
Her album The Galway Girl went four times platinum in Ireland and the title track won the Meteor Award for the most downloaded song two years running. 2009’s Meteor Awards honoured Sharon as the youngest ever winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Her last album was Saints and Scoundrels, which she released in the spring of 2009, was dedicated to her long-term partner Leo Healy, who died from a heart attack in May 2008.
More than two years after his death, the subject is still understandably raw for Sharon and she pauses when his name is mentioned but asked if she’d rather not talk about his passing, she immediately says, “I’m always talking about Leo. He was, and still is, a huge part of my life. We were together for over eight years and were very close. He was involved in everything I did and it’s very hard not having him around now,” she said.
“There are pictures of him all over the house. I feel he is always looking out for me and guiding me all the way, which is comforting. He was a huge help on Saints and Scoundrels and we had great fun when I was making that album and others of course. Even if he hadn’t died before it came out, I would have dedicated it to him. I do know that whatever I’m doing and wherever I’m doing it, Leo is with me,” she adds.
Sharon grew up in Corofin and then in Ruan on the family farm. Her parents IJ and Mary were set dancers and the four children all played and still play music. Originally, Sharon played the tin whistle but her brother, Gary, (the eldest in the family) decided that they should all play different instruments. Sharon said she was lucky because she got the accordion and that was the instrument she really wanted to play.
“From when I first heard the accordion and held one in my hand, I loved it, so I’m very glad that it was the accordion I focused on,” she adds. She also plays the fiddle and tin whistle still.
Her father was very involved with horses and Sharon became a competition showjumper, attending competitions in the west of Ireland. “I loved it. I loved the feel of riding a pony. I still love horses but by 16, I was becoming increasingly involved in music, so something had to give and I made the choice that I’d have to drop out of showjumping,” she explains.
After her Leaving Certificate, she went to University College Cork for a short spell but admits she had no interest in it at all. “After that, I spent a year on a secretarial course with Michael McNamara but I hadn’t a notion of working as a secretary. I did it to keep my mother happy because she was terribly worried that I wouldn’t make a living out of music. Luckily I did and I’ve managed to make what I love doing into my career. One thing is certain, I was never going to be a secretary,” she jokes.
Shannon began her own recording career in 1989, working with producer John Dunford and musicians such as Adam Clayton, Mike Scott and Steve Wickham. The work with Scott and Wickham led to Shannon’s joining their band, The Waterboys. She was with the band for 18 months and contributed both accordion and fiddle to their Room to Roam album. Her first world tour was with The Waterboys.
“I got great experience with The Waterboys. They were great guys to work with. It opened my mind to other kinds of music than traditional Irish and gave me an insight into touring and recording. When I broke away from them, their fans knew who I was and supported me, which gave me a great platform to start out with as a solo musician. I am very grateful for that. The first gig I played with The Waterboys was on the night of my 21st birthday. I’m still good friends with the lads,” she tells.
Following on from that, her track Blackbird was included on A Woman’s Heart, a compilation with other Irish female artists including Dolores Keane, Maura O’Connell and Mary Black and a tribute to her work on The Late Late Show
Shannon’s solo work has achieved remarkable airplay and commercial success, especially in Ireland.
She is as busy as ever these days and will be in all corners of the country this summer playing various festivals, as well as dates in the UK. She is also putting together a package with Dessie O’Halloran, Mundy, Shane MacGowan and the Big Band. “Last New Year we played down in Killarney and arising from that, we’re putting together a package for the Christmas market, which will include the Saints and Scoundrels CD with some new added tracks, a DVD of the Killarney show, a booklet and some photos. There might be some other bits too. We’re still working on it,” she says.
She will also be heading to Lanzarote in November to play at a matchmaking festival. “A friend of mine, Barry Murphy, owns a bar called Charlie’s Bar over there and I’ve played with his house band a few times. This November, he’s running a matchmaking festival, a small bit like Lisdoonvarna and I’ll be playing with the house band during that. It’ll be mighty craic,” Sharon remarks.
She has also recently finished recording a new version of Muirsheen Durkin for a documentary about singer Johnny McEvoy, which is due to air on RTÉ around Christmas. “The band and me were drafted in to play for that and it’s come out really well. We think it will also be included in the package we’re putting together,” she said.
Sharon has been living for many years in Salthill and shares her home with her four dogs, Lily, Daisy, Benji and Gaffo and four cats, Sally, Rosie, Harry and Susie. Her dogs were recently featured in the hit You Tube video of Miltown Malbay’s Seán Óg’s I’ll Still Love you Without Your Car. “That was a lot of fun. The dog driving the car is Lily, the dog with the glasses in Daisy, who is blind, Benji is the dog singing into the hairbrush. The other dog in the video is my neighbour’s dog, called Louis Walsh,” she says. She adds that she loves her dogs and cats. “They are brilliant and I’d be lost without them. I love walking with them on the prom in Salthill and some of the cats follow me when I go out there too. They’re not pure bred, all cross breeds but to me, they’re the best dogs in the world. I miss them a lot when I’m away and I think they miss me too and the cats especially get a bit clingy after I’ve been away. I think they like music but they’re so used to me playing the accordion now that they barely respond at all. When they hear a different instrument, like the pipes or something, they respond differently altogether,” Sharon adds.
Sharon and her big band, with Shane MacGowan and Dessie O’Halloran, will headline the Merriman Festival at Canny’s in Killanena this weekend. The festival will run from Friday to Sunday and is the first time Sharon has played the Merriman Festival. The concert with Sharon, and special guests will take place on Sunday night on the marquee stage.
“I’m really looking forward to playing in Killanena. It’s a very local festival and I’m delighted to be involved. It receives great support every year and I’ve been told there’s lots of demand for it again this year. It’s wonderful to see Clare’s festivals still going so well and I’m so glad to play at them. I love performing with Shane and Dessie too – it’s always a treat,” she says.
Another musician making his debut at the Merriman Festival is country and western singer Jimmy Buckley, who will play on the marquee stage on Friday night. Cover band Big Generator will play on Saturday night.
Throughout the weekend, there will also be a host of session in Canny’s Bar.
To book tickets for the Sharon Shannon concert or any of the other Merriman Festival gigs concact 061 925148.