*Chris Droney & Ann Kirrane. Photograph: Martin Connolly
A NEW BOOK about the late Chris Droney will be launched in Ennis next week.
As part of the opening night of the 2023 Consairtín festival on Thursday (April 13th), there will be the launch of a book on Bellharbour’s Chris Droney at The Old Ground Hotel following the official opening.
Chris performed at the official opening of the first Consairtín festival in 2014 and he will be remembered at the tenth festival with the launch of the publication which was written by Dan Worrall and James J Branch. Chris’ daughter, Ann wrote the foreword for the book which is titled Chris Droney of Bell Harbour and the tradition of the concertina in North Clare.
Ernestine Healy will perform the official opening of the festival at 7:30pm while the Droney family and friends will provide music, song and dance. Admission is free.
Regarded as one of Clare’s greatest musicians and concertina players, Chris died in September 2020 at the age of 95. During his near nine decade music career, he was acknowledged with a multitude of accoldades including the TG4 Grádam Saoil award for lifetime achievement; a CCÉ Bardic Award, a Teastas award, the Clare Person of the Year Award in 2012 and the 2018 MÓRglór award.
He was a ten-time All-Ireland senior concertina champion. He played alongside the Bell Harbour Céilí Band, the Kilfenora Céilí Band, the Ballinakill Céilí Band, Augrim Slopes and the Kincora Céilí Band throughout his career. He also released three solo recordings, The Flowing Tide, (1962), The Fertile Rock, (1995) and Down From Bell Harbour, (2005).
