How’s life? Great!
You have been very busy this summer, even stepping in for Sinead O’Connor last minute at the Galway Arts Festival. What is your favourite thing about festival season?
I was very sorry to hear that Sinead was unwell and I was on a day off myself and luckily all the band members were also available, it was nice to be able to help out and always great to play a show at the Galway Arts Festival, especially the Big Top! What’s great about festival season is that the Galway Arts Festival at the Big Top (capacity 3000) was sandwiched between Ortegueira Festival in Spain (the biggest free festival in Europe, 15,000 audience) and a 300 capacity festival at Ballykeefe Amphitheatre in Co. Kilkenny, a really beautifully designed outdoor show, so you get lots of variety!
Your gig at the Mermaid Arts Centre was much more intimate in comparison. Do you prefer a smaller venue?
I like to play all types of venues, it’s generally the reaction of the audience that is memorable to me. I played the Mermaid some years back with a different line up and I remember it was a great night.
Have you any plans to record soon or are you focusing on touring at the moment?
The show at The Mermaid is with Alan Connor, he is a great multi-instrumentalist and singer and we have just released a CD/DVD of this show called In Galway. We have been working on that for a couple of years.
When you first began playing did you ever imagine that you would have the chance to perform all over the world?
I’m so lucky to still be earning a living from playing music, it’s great to be paid for doing what you like.
You are a patron for MADRA (Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue & Adoption). How did you become involved with them?
Madra are a fantastic organisation based in Galway. Marina Fiddler founded Madra and she has a great passion for animals. I do as much as I can to help.
Aside from playing, what do you like to do to unwind?
I walk my 8 dogs (that takes up A LOT of time!) I also like to swim in the summer. I have been a vegetarian for many years and I have recently adopted a vegan diet so I’m learning to cook vegan recipes. I also help out some animal rescues and I am a patron of Building of Hope a charity based in Ennis Co. Clare that are involved in building projects in Kenya.
Sharon Shannon is an Irish musician best known for her abilities with the accordion and fiddle. her 1991 album Sharon Shannon is the best-selling album of traditional music ever released. Aside from Irish folk music, there are many influences in her music, from reaggae and Cajun music to hip hop. As a solo musician, Sharon toured Australia, Europe, Hong Kong and Japan.
