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Dolores Keane was born in Caherlistrane,
Co. Galway in the west of Ireland and was raised from the
age of four by her aunts, Rita and Sarah Keane, who are themselves
known throughout the world for their Sean nOs singing.
She
made her first recording for Radio Eireann at the age of five
and later became a founder member of the now internationally
known traditional group De Dannan.She toured with them for
four years and had a number one single with “The Rambling
Irishman”.
After
moving to England with her husband John Faulkner, she worked
on a series of film scores and programmes for the BBC and
formed two very successful bands: "The Reel Union”;
and “Kinvara”. She recorded three albums during
this period: “There Was A Maid”; Broken Hearted
I’ll Wander”; and "Farewell to Eirinn".
On
her return to Ireland she rejoined De Dannan for a time to
record their albums “Ballroom” and Anthem”
and a solo album, “Sail Óg Rua”.
The
resumption of her solo career brought the very successful
“Dolores Keane” and “Lion In A Cage”
albums. The title track of the latter, a song written by John
Faulkner protesting the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela, brought
Dolores her second number one single. She was delighted to
perform the song live at the celebration of his release.
Dolores
also featured on “A Woman’s Heart”, a compilation
of music by Irish women singers including Mary Black, Maura
O’Connell and Eleanor McEvoy, which is to date Ireland’s
biggest selling record ever. “A Woman’s Heart
Vol. 2” was released in late 1994 and emulated its predecessor
in album charts the world over.
In
August 1995, Dolores received the prestigious Fiddler’s
Green Hall of Fame Award in Rostrevor, Co. Down, for her “significant
contribution to the cause of Irish music and culture”.She
also returned to the stage in the Dublin production of “Playboy
Of The Western World” in March/April of that year.
Dolores
contributed to the RTE/BBC television production “Bringing
It All Back Home”, a series of programmes illustrating
the movement of Irish Music (in particular) to America with
the emigration of a large section of the population and it’s
influence on American contemporary music. Dolores was shown
performing both in Nashville, with musicians such as Emmylou
Harris and Richard Thompson, and in her home place with her
aunts, Rita and Sarah.
In
August 1997 Dara Records issued a retrospective collection
of Dolores’ work, “The Best of Dolores Keane”,
which reached the number one spot in the album charts in only
its second week of release.
Dolores
has toured extensively throughout the world and has recently
returned from America where she performed at the Boston Irish
Festival.
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