Coventry Folk Club and Acoustic Scene 1960's to Present: The Gaels

The Gaels

The Gaels 1969—Midland Sound Recording MID 1350 LP

The GAELS

c 1968 - First Coventry based Irish band in the folk revival. a traditional Celtic folk group, founded in 1966 as The Phoenix Folk Group.

Line up:

Sean Cannon (later with The Dubliners 1982).

Bill Hartnett
Seán Cannon
Brian Patten
Ian (Skid) Rennie

The Gaels 1969

Track list

Whisky In The Jar
Poc Ar Buile
Lark In The Morning
Rothesay-O
Kishmul's Gallery
Medley
The Galway Shawl
Barnyards Of Delgaty
Blow Ye Winds
Lock The Door Lariston
Sliabh Na Mban
The Maid Of The Sweet Brown Knowe
Red Haired Mary
Banks Of Marble
Farewell To Ireland
Sweet Thames Flow Softly

From https://www.discogs.com/The-Gaels-The-Gaels/release/6100658

From the sleeve notes of the album

In February 1968, the GAELS opened an upstairs room at the Denbigh Arms, Monks Kirby in Warwickshire, and another such Folk Club was born. The group, originally started by two of its members in 1966 as the Phoenix Folk Group, has four members, who between them play a wide range of instruments. The club soon earned a reputation for good music, talent and entertainment and the membership now stands somewhere over the 2,000 mark.

Many national and international guest artistes and floor singers have appeared at the club and much has been written about the group themselves in Folk circles. John Foreman wrote “an outstanding group, playing a variety of instruments between them. I agree with many others in rating them very highly", Thus the Denbigh Arms Folk Club, Monks Kirby—almost in the middle of nowhere—earned its name for a “good Saturday evening's entertainment!

In addition to the clubs in the Midlands the group has made several visits to Ireland, and is perhaps as well known in parts of Ireland as over here.

Three members of the group hail from the “Shamrock Isle". Brian Patten is a native of Donegal on the borders of Northern Ireland—Sean Cannon was born and raised in Galway City and Bill Hartnett, their acknowledged leader, comes from County Limerick. The fourth member Ian (Skid) Rennie is an exiled Scot from the Burns county of Ayrshire and completes the Celtic circle.

It is hardly surprising that the GAELS possess by virtue of their inheritance, a richness of fine traditional material. Their style is not, however, confined to the traditional, for with their natural talent and instrumental versatility, they are able to produce a varied sound and style to suit all folk enthusiasts.

Finally, by popular demand, this record has been produced. It is dedicated to all club members and friends for their encouragement, enthusiasm and support, and is the GAELS own contribution to the furtherance of good Folk Music to Folk lovers everywhere.

Seán Cannon

Born: November 29, 1940

Dubliners' member: 1982-

Following from - http://itsthedubliners.com/sc_01.htm

Born and reared in Galway, but spent most of his adult life in England. His interest in folk music started in 1962 in Germany where he lived for a short while. For several years he moved throughout Europe living in Germany, Switzerland and Spain and eventually settling in England in the late 60's. He first appeared with the Dubliners, when he played support in two concerts in the 70's at Coventry and Redcar. He has also toured extensively with Planxty throughout Britain and Europe.

For the last dozen years he has played in practically every folk club from John O'Groats to Land's End. Sean is married and based in Yorkshire and is likely to remain there as most of the Dubliners' work is throughout Europe and Britain.

source: 25th Anniversary - Tour Program

Seán was born in Galway but has spent a good deal of his adult life in England. His wanderings began in the early 60's when he moved to Germany for a year with a view to developing his linguistic ability- During his time there he became interested in folk music. His next move was to Switzerland where he appeared on several radio and television stations as well as acquiring an excellent command of the French language. With rucksack and guitar in tow, Seán then moved to Spain where he taught both German and French, acquiring in the process fluent Spanish to add to his already established multilingual repertoire. Eventually, he was to settle in England in the late 60s and went on to become a renowned solo artiste, playing the many folk clubs that had mushroomed during these folk revival years. Seán had been a dose friend of The Dubliners for many years and appeared with them as a guest artist on a number of occasions before accepting an invitation to join them in the Autumn of 1982. As a solo artist, Seán has toured extensively with Planxty and Moving Hearts throughout Britain and Europe and has appeared at almost every folk club and festival between John O'Groats and Lands End. These days, because of his commitments with the band, his folk club appearances are a rarity, though his popular "One Man Show" concerts are to be seen at quite a number of Arts Centres and theatres throughout the country. Seán is an experienced cook, specialising in Indian cuisine. He once did the entire catering for a Moving Hearts' tour, providing a change of menu each day in addition to catering for the vegetarian needs of some of the road crew. His "Cannon Catering Trailer" was also a popular site at many festivals during this period where he, and his wife Pam, provided a healthy and balanced alternative to fast food catering. His main hobby, however, is languages and, as a result of his travels and natural ability in this area, he now speaks German, French and Spanish fluently and, of course his native Gaelic. He can also manage some Russian and has surprised many an audience (and indeed the group) in Iceland, Hungary and Yugoslavia by introducing songs in their respective languages. On tour he's usually to be found with his head buried in a dictionary. Sometimes he catches the rest of the group by surprise when he lapses into English.

(Above shows the Gael's playing a Music Marathon November 1969 at the Coventry Arts