BIO

“It isn’t possible to know me
without knowing Ireland first.”

Brendan Shanahan writes his own songs, but for his first CD release, he felt it was important to acknowledge writers of traditional ballads of Ireland. Few contemporary songwriters can match the passion and intricacy, and even humour, of the writers, some unknown, who penned the songs on this CD. Brendan’s interpretative style for these ballads is expressive, revelatory in its phrasing, and transporting in its imagery of stories stored away in memory and time.

Modern Ireland is a nation in danger of losing its unique historic identity to its remarkable progress in business and technology. Brendan is a bulwark in affirming Ireland’s rich and historic past, steeped in ancient glory and Celtic mythology, as he sings her traditional ballads. He validates the complex changing present with his own lyrics, to come in later CDs.

Brendan’s uncomplicated style and clear diction make him the perfect introduction to those new to Irish music. Dublin to the core, a true “Dub”, his passion for Ireland will convert any listener—to “Brendan’s Ireland”—his way, his viewpoint.

Brendan learned to play the guitar as a youth and accompanies himself on the instrument as he performs, live and on CD. He never pursued a career in music, just did it for fun, until so many tourists and Dubs in the pubs prodded him to record his music. Brendan has performed in Dublin’s pubs for a decade. He sings the traditional (“trad”) songs of Ireland: ballads about rebellion, the dignity of a people, history, hard times, but also about good times, whiskey and women, rakes and highwaymen. The emotions of love and loss as interpreted by some of Ireland’s celebrated poets, but also by the anonymous wordsmith, open a door to the Irish soul. Knowing and loving these historic ballads informs his original music as well.

Educated by the Christian Brothers, his spiritual beliefs have influenced his songwriting. He and his family regularly perform in his local Church in Whitehall, Dublin. He has a wife, his one and only, and 4 children, all musical or interested in the stage. His son, Paul, at 13, sings backup on his first CD and will contribute to others. He has another son, accomplished at the piano, and 2 daughters, one already entering the film industry.

His original music, CD coming soon, is about love. “It’s only love that matters to me”, as one of the songs he wrote says. He also intends to release a Christian CD, some songs of Irish renown, others he has written himself.

Brendan is also a superb writer of short fiction and essays, so watch Brendan’s Ireland page on this site for publication of his prose, once that webpage is further developed.

He will be appearing in the US and Europe later this year, so watch LIVE on this site for that information. Of course, he will continue to sing in Dublin, so watch the LIVE page or email him for details for your evening out.

more about Brendan….
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music, childhood memories, sports…..

In his own words. “I have always been interested in creative things and from an early age was dabbling in writing songs and short stories. I guess I got some of this from my Dad who used to play the mouth organ. He would often enter the room and play some well-known Irish tune and then he would ask for an opinion on some new tune that he had made up. He would leave the room with a satisfied smile on his face whether the feedback was good or bad. The triumph I think was in the creation of the new tune and the feedback was really irrelevant.

My Grandmother, who was from Limerick, played the button accordion and my uncle played the flute. Her house was out in the country and I remember sitting on the stairs as a child in wonderment watching Irish dancing and music being played into the early hours of the morning. Grandmother’s house did not have electricity, but she did have oil lamps that added to the atmosphere. The floor in this house was a shiny cement and was known in the neighborhood as a good dance floor and hence people came from miles around to dance the reel, jigs, and the Walls of Limerick.”

SPORTS. “Dub” is a name given to a native of the city of Dublin. Brendan is a proud Dub, passionate about his Irishness, and an avid supporter of the Dublin Gaelic Football Team. Gaelic Football is a true Irish sport and on All-Ireland Day, 90,000 fans attend the game. This pride, loyalty and spirit are conveyed in his voice as he sings the songs of Ireland.

In his own words. “Sport has played a huge part in my life. As a 10-year-old, I was the fastest in school over 80 yards. I played school boy soccer for Home Farm which is a famous amateur club on the North Side of Dublin. The North Side is not regarded as the posh side. In my teens I played for many teams at a fairly high standard and was known as “the flying winger”. I played in a very famous 5-a-side tournament known as the Gloucester Diamond, a place located in the middle of Dublin City on the North Side. The pitch was tarmacadam, and it was surrounded on all 4 sides by what used to be called “Flats”. Flats equate to 7- to 10-storey apartment blocks in modern times. The area at the time was a no-go one, unless you were from there, except when the 5-a-Side competition was on. It attracted all the best players in Dublin. I vividly remember being on the ball and getting ready to take a shot at goal, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a young child of about 7 or 8 scaling up a drainpipe outside the building. I fluffed the shot and failed to score, as the child was about 5 storeys up! My football career ended when I had to have 2 cartilages removed from my right knee.”

Brendan played handball for his school and was Dublin junior handball champion at 10. Handball is linked to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) which controls all matters related to Gaelic Football and Hurling. This is an association focused on all things Irish, very well organized, and strong in every parish in Ireland.

Brendan played squash at premiership level, the highest level in Ireland in his 20s. He took up golf in his 30s and plays once a week when weather permits.

Please read about Gaelic Football by clicking on this link: gaa.ie

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