The Eilis Kennedy Trio: Eilis Kennedy, Jeremy Spencer, Matt Griffin

Growing  up in a  West  Kerry family  for  whom  songs and  singing are part of  life ,  it is was  no surprise that Éilís Kennedy lives and   breathes singing. Like  all her  family  , Éilís is fluent in the Irish  language . She  sings in Gaelic tradition of  the region’s  heritage but is well versed in   broader  folk and  non -  traditional  styles. 

Her   father  Caoímhín  was  a fine  singer , teacher and  poet  and  along  with her  uncle  Muiris and her siblings, particularly  her  eldest  sister Neasa, influenced  her  singing  initially  . Exposure to  the  English  ballad  tradition and folk revival  and  later  still   the  rich traditions of  American folk  saw  her  songs and   choices  broaden.  Music   remained  a central  and  balancing   aspect  to   her  life , and when she  and  her husband opened  a bar specialising in   traditional  music  in early 1990s  Dingle,  it  became  a mecca  for those   who  had  a primary  interest in songs. Éilís’  Wednesday night  singing sessions  were  rich in   songs,  singers and musicians  and that tradition  continues  to this  day.  

She sings and  plays  music in  John Benny’s Pub , Dingle  , and  has  toured in Europe  with guitarist Matt Griffin and fiddle player Jeremy Spencer .

Her  first  album  Time To Sail was  released in  2001  to   huge  critical  acclaim  and  led   her to  travel  with her  fellow  musicians  on  a journey  which continues today.

From   the  traditional  Amhrán na Leabhar  to  a cover of  Sandy  Denny’s  Who Knows Where The Time Goesand a funky  reworking of   The Factory  Girl,   Eilís’ breadth and   versatility  shines. 

That indefinable quality that raises one singer above the many in these days of talent glut, Éilís has it.  Mel McClellan  BBC Radio 2

Every once in a while, an album comes along which heralds a potentially, major yet underrated vocal talent   Irish  Music  Magazine 

Over the  years  Éilís has  released  five   solo  albums, collaborated  with  world  renowned musicians  including  William Coulter , Edwin Huizinga ,Séamus Begley,  Pauline Scanlon, Donogh Hennessy, Karan  Casey, Shaun Davey, Rita Connolly, Barry Phillips, Shelley Phillips, Maeve Gilchrist,  Seamus Egan, Winifred Horan, Steve Cooney  and  performed all over the  world . Her duo with Pauline Scanlon , Lumiere gained worldwide acclaim .

Her   ballad  The Flannel  Red is  one  she  composed  about the   lore and  superstition  surrounding  her  Blasket  Island  Great Grandfather’s drowning.  

Debuting as a songwriter, Kennedy's late vocation reveals that her finely tuned ears are matched by an equally poised pen    The Irish  Times

Her   songwriting ability has grown   and  in  2020 the   themed  album   So Ends This Day is  an extraordinary  collection based  on the lives and  adventures of 19th century  New England  whalemen! The   late  Brian ‘O Donovan  in  Boston gave this  album singular  praise on  his   Celtic Sojourn  show and   he was instrumental  in  having  Éilís   perform  these songs   at  the  wonderful  Shaolin Liu  Performance  Center  in  Rockport    Mass,  as  part of  Rockport   Celtic  Festival in  2023.

Tender and probing, meticulous in its excavation of the maritime escapades of 19th century whalers, incarcerated Fenians and Arctic explorers, this latest collection from west Kerry musician Éilís Kennedy marks her out as a songwriter, as well as a singer of deep humanity.   The Irish  Times

Éilís   has  received  three Live Ireland   Best Female  Vocal   accolades, and ACLSR  Female  Vocalist of the Year   2021.  Her  last album  was nominated  for  an Rte Folk Award . She  regularly  tours  with   Grammy  award - Winning   guitarist  William  Coulter ,  and  most  recently  has  performed   with   arch – guitar player   Peter Blanchette. She  has  performed in   countless  Christmas   Shows   nationwide in  the US  notably  with  Brian  O ‘Donovan  A Christmas  Celtic  Sojourn    , Irish  Christmas  in America  with   Oisín  Mac Diarmada  and  performed   in the  New York’s  Carnegie  Hall  (for  Christmas  with  Tim  Janis  ) .

Her  love of   songs  and  singing  are  very  evident , and  her  education backgound    definitely  helps ! She   still uses   her  grandmother Ellie Keane’s  old  Gaelic song  books, complete  with   her  annotations   from  the  1920’s  -  this  is Éilís  to   her  very   core. She is deeply rooted in  a treasured  tradition  but conveys a fresh and open approach to her  music and  songs.

For more see the links below

www.eiliskennedymusic.com

https://eiliskennedy.bandcamp.com/