Congratulations to RTÉ Radio 1's traditional music showcase The Rolling Wave, winner of the Best Radio Music prize at this year's Celtic Media Festival - listen to the winning programme, featuring legendary Donegal fiddle player Danny Meehan, above.
The annual Celtic Media Festival exists to promote the cultures and languages of the Celtic countries in film, on television, radio and new media.
Presented by Aoife Nic Cormaic, and named after a famous traditional Irish tune, The Rolling Wave offers a sharp ear and a close eye on the world's of folk and traditional music in Ireland.
The winner for best #RadioMusic Programme is The Rolling Wave @TheRollingWave @rteradio1 #CelticMedia #TorcAwards pic.twitter.com/rQ8ceQcSDW
— Celtic Media Festival (@CelticMediaFest) June 9, 2022
Danny Meehan was born in Drimolost, Co Donegal in 1940. He was fortunate in that he was surrounded by talented musicians both at home through his grandmother and his parents and in the locality with people like Charlie McCahill, Peter Quinn and Paddy McDyer. All of those musicians would have been very influential on Danny's music, but also on his attitude towards music.
He moved to England when he was just sixteen years old and settled in London where he became immersed in the thriving traditional music scene there, meeting Bobby Casey, Julia Clifford, Jimmy Power, his bandmates in the group Le Chéile and so many more. He remained in London for 52 years until he retired back to Donegal, where he now lives.
His lifetime contribution to music was recognised when he was awarded the Gradam Saoil at Gradaim Ceoil TG4 in 2012 and we can confirm that he is still playing as well as ever!
This conversation and the music played was recorded in Danny’s home place in Drimolost in 2021 and The Rolling Wave was joined on the day by Danny’s friend and another great fiddle player, Rónán Galvin.
Listen to more from The Rolling Wave on RTÉ Radio 1 here.
