Nuair a bhásaigh Seán Keane níos luaithe i mbliana, tugadh ómós don mháistir ceoil ar mheas go leor é a bheith i measc na gceoltóirí is fearr riamh i gcuimhne na ndaoine. Cuireadh sa chatagóir chéanna é le leithéidí Willie Clancy agus Séamus Ennis.
Ba é Seán an "fear ciúin" sna Chieftains, fear uasal a bhí in ann an slua mór a chur ina dtost agus faoi gheasa nuair a cheolfadh sé as féin.
D'fhás Keane, a bhí ina bhall ar feadh a shaoil den ghrúpa ceannródaíoch The Chieftains, aníos i dteach ceolmhar ina mbíodh a thuismitheoirí ag ceol agus ina mbíodh seisiúin ar siúl go rialta. D’fhoghlaim sé leis an veidhlín clasaiceach a sheinm, agus bheadh sé ábalta gairm a bheith bainte amach aige ag casadh coinséartó veidhlín sna hallaí ceolchoirmeacha is mó ar domhan dá dtogródh sé é.
Ach ba é an ceol traidisiúnta a d’oscail roinnt de na doirse ar na hionaid cheoil ba mhó cáil ar fud an domhain dhó. Ba é Keane duine de bhunaitheoirí nuálaithe ceoil The Chieftains, ach níor chloígh sé féin ná lucht an bhanna le rialacha an cheoil thraidisiúnta Ghaelaigh. Chuir siad ceol, a mbaintí taitneamh as go traidisiúnta i seomraí suí agus i dtithe tábhairne, ar an stáitse domhanda agus bhí tóir ollmhór ar a gcuid camchuairteanna agus taifeadtaí.
Aithnítear an banna, a bhfuil Gradam Grammy buaite sé huaire acu, mar an dream a rinne athrú ó bhonn ar an gceol traidisiúnta Gaelach. Níor facthas a leithéide riamh nuair a bhíodh siad ag ceol in éineacht le ceoltóirí mór le rá an domhain, leithéidí Van Morrisson, Sting agus The Rolling Stones, agus bhain siad cáil amach ar fud an domhain. Ach an méid sin ráite, b’fhearr le Keane fanacht níos gaire d’fhoinse a chuid ceoil, in éineacht lena theaghlach agus cairde agus a bheith ag múineadh ceoil don dream níos óige gach Dé Sathairn ar feadh blianta.
Tá cáil mhór air mar gheall ar a rímháistreacht agus a theicníc, agus measann go leor gur slata tomhais iad a chuid taifeadtaí aonair do dhuine ar bith a bhfuil suim acu san fhidléireacht thraidisiúnta.
Caitear súil siar sa chlár seo ar shaol agus ar ghairm Sheáin Keane trí shúile na ndaoine is gaire dó: a dheartháir James Keane, Matt Molloy a bhí sna Chieftains freisin agus a chairde ceoil Noel Hill, Paddy Glackin, Seán Potts agus Liam O'Connor.
In this very special episode of Cloch le Carn, airing on Bank Holiday Monday, we celebrate the life and times of one of Ireland’s most respected musicians, lifelong member of The Chieftains, Seán Keane.
When Seán Keane died earlier this year, tributes were paid to a musical genius many considered to be among the greatest in living memory, up there with the likes of Willie Clancy and Séamus Ennis. He was the "quiet man" of The Chieftains, the gentle giant whose solo performances could bring whole stadia to a standstill.
A life-long member of the groundbreaking group The Chieftains, Keane grew up in a musical home, where his parents played music and held regular sessions. He learnt to play classical violin, and could have had a career playing violin concerti in the biggest concert halls of the world. But it was traditional music which opened the doors of some of the most famous music venues around the globe to him. As a founding member of musical innovators The Chieftains, Keane and his bandmates rewrote the rules of traditional Irish music, taking a music once enjoyed in sitting rooms and pubs onto a world stage, touring and recording to great acclaim.
The six-time Grammy-Award winners are recognised as having transformed Irish traditional music. Their collaborations with world musicians and the likes of Van Morrisson, Sting and the Rolling Stones broke new ground, catapulting them to global fame. But all the while, Keane preferred to remain close to the source of his music, among family and friends and teaching younger generations every Saturday for years.
He is renowned for his virtuosity and technique, and his solo recordings are seen by many as a touchstone for anyone interested in traditional fiddle-playing.
This programme looks back at Seán Keane’s life and career through the eyes of those closest to him: his brother James Keane, fellow Chieftain Matt Molloy and musical friends Noel Hill, Paddy Glackin, Seán Potts and Liam O'Connor.
Cloch le Carn: Seán Keane airs on Monday 30th October, 18.30 on RTÉ ONE
