Shaskeen: Cork Folk Festival

Shaskeen is a renowned traditional music group formed in London in 1970, known for their captivating performances and deep cultural roots. The band is celebrating its 55th ‘Emerald Tour’ this year, marking over five decades of preserving and innovating Irish musical heritage. Shaskeen's current lineup includes Eamonn Cotter, Tom Cussen, Alan Wallace, Patsy McDonagh, Dave Sanders, Mary Liddy, Johnny Donnellan and Deirdre Scanlan. 

Eamonn Cotter (flute) is from Kilmaley in Co. Clare, he comes from a fine musical family. Eamonn plays flute and tin whistle and is a master teacher of these instruments. He has released a solo flute CD Traditional Music from Co Clare and he is a renowned maker of the traditional concert wooden flute ‘Cotter Flutes’. He has toured and played with the St.Flannan’s and the Tulla Céilí Bands. 

Patsy McDonagh (accordion) is with the band for the last 28 years and he comes from Ros an Mhíl in the Connemara Gaeltacht. Patsy has played with many bands and folk groups down through the years including the Corrib Céilí Band and Mulhaires Céilí Band. Patsy is a self-taught musician and now spends a lot of time teaching music to young people. 

Deirdre Scanlan (song) is originally from West Limerick but now residing in County Clare for over 20 years. From a young age Deirdre was very involved in the traditional music scene in the Sliabh Luachra and West Limerick areas. She holds several All-Ireland titles for traditional singing in both Irish and English. Deirdre has performed on a number of occasions with The Kilfenora Céilí band and has made numerous TV appearances. She has recorded an CD entitled ‘Faces’ and two singles, ‘Forever Part of Me’ and ‘Guardians of the Peace’. 

Dave Sanders (fiddle) originally from Kilnaboy, is now living in Ennis in County Clare. He purchased his first fiddle at the age of nine from Mrs Whyte and learned his trade from Gus Tierney and Tony Linnane. He has played and or recorded with varying bands through the year’s including the Turloughmore Céilí Band, Kilfenora Céilí Band and St Flannans Céilí Band among others. 

Alan Wallace (guitar), from Kinvara, Co. Galway, is a superb guitarist with many years of accompanying top class musicians from the Traditional Irish Music scene as well as other genres of music. His musical tastes cover a broad range, but he is mainly involved in the traditional music folk scene. 

Tom Cussen (tenor banjo/mandolin) originally from County Limerick, now a long-time resident of Galway. As well as being The Band Leader, Tom is the maker of the renowned Clareen banjos. Tom and Tony have recorded an album together called There is Always Room in Our House featuring banjo and saxophone. 

Mary Liddy (concertina) originally from Newmarket on Fergus and now living in Ennis, Co. Clare. She comes from a traditional Irish musical family, playing with other members of her family in the Shannonside Céilí Band from an early age. Mary has played with the Turloughmore Céilí Band for many years, recording 3 CDs, Seven Streams, The Bees Wing and The Green Road with Seán Ó Sé. 

Johnny Donnellan (bodhrán) from Kilmaine, a small village on the Mayo/Galway border. His uncle James Walsh taught him his first tune on the melodeon at the age of 8 and remains an influence on his style of music. In 1981 John bought his first bodhrán and has continued to develop his styles and techniques ever since, winning six major bodhran titles in the meantime. John has also developed a unique technique to his playing by attaching a block to his bodhrán making a distinctive sound when playing.