Dónal Clancy

February 12, 2017

This show postponed due to snow storm.

Innovation combined with tradition: that’s a hallmark of Clancy family musicians, and it’s one that guitarist Dónal Clancy is carrying forward into the twenty first century. The acoustic guitar adds many colors and textures to Irish music, but there’s no long history of it in Celtic tradition, as there is with the fiddle and the accordion. Dónal Clancy is one who’s bringing the guitar forward to its rightful place as a strong part of Irish tradition. He’s been involved with the best bands in Irish music, starting out in Clancy, O’Connell, and Clancy with his father Liam and his cousin Robbie O’Connell, helping to found the band Danu and then moving on to become part of Eileen Ivers Band before taking a pivotal spot playing guitar with one of the hottest Irish and Irish American bands around, Solas. When it was time to make a change, he found his old band Danu in need of a guitar player again, and that’s still one of his main gigs. In 2014, to much critical acclaim, he released an album dedicated to The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem entitled “Songs of a Roving Blade.” The Irish Post called it “folk singing at its best” and “a smashing album that should help to ensure these songs will never be lost.” Dónal’s latest album “On the Lonesome Plain” features a mix of seven vocal tracks and six guitar instrumentals, including two of his own compositions A Strike for Victory commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising and an instrumental piece entitled Máirseáil na Conrach,inspired by the dramatic beauty of West Kerry. Don’t miss the Blackstone River Theatre debut of an incredible guitarist and powerful singer!

Upcoming Concerts

Tannahill Weavers
April 27, 2024 8:00 p.m.
Tannahill Weavers
Genticorum
May 5, 2024 7:00 p.m.
Genticorum
Hanneke Cassel Band
May 11, 2024 8:00 p.m.
Hanneke Cassel Band