Seamus Grant 1934-2005
Fiddler and Founder of the Clonmany Ceili Band
Seamus lived all of his life in Clonmany. He was a farmer and and fiddle player. Seamus was a gifted and generous musician and throughout his lifetime gave freely of his time and talent. Music was passed down by his parents, both musicians. He learned also, from the playing of his uncle, Willie Joe Grant and from a neighbour, (White) Dan Doherty. White Dan was a fiddler, singer and dancer and a great source of tunes, many learned during harvest time in Scotland. The strong links that existed between Inishowen and Scotland is evident in the Dance Music played by Seamus.
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For information on the Seamus Grant Weekend visit: https://seamusgrantweekend.com/
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Recordings of Seamus
Seamus playing Father O’Flynn and Haste to the Wedding. Recorded by Patsy Toland
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Seamus playing a Strathspey. Recorded by Patsy Toland.
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Seamus playing an The Soldier’s Joy. Recorded by Patsy Toland.
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Seamus playing an An Boreen Bui. Recorded by Patsy Toland.
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Seamus playing the Duke of Perth – Recorded by Patsy Toland.
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Seamus playing the White Cockade, Recorded by Patsy Toland.
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Seamus playing the Highland Orange and Blue. Recorded by Patsy Toland.
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Seamus playing the Highland known locally as George Owen’s Highland. Recorded by Patsy Toland.
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Seamus playing Double Jigs The Kings Favourite. Recorded by Patsy Toland.
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Seamus playing a Highland. Recorded by Jimmy Mc Bride
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Clonmany Céilí Band
The Clonmany Céilí Band was formed in 1956 by local priest Fr. Desmond Mullan to promote céilí dancing in the parish. The early members were Seamus Grant (fiddle), Jimmy and Ned Doherty (drums and double bass), Maeliosa Doherty (button accordion), John McCarron (button accordion), Neil Mc Gonigle (fiddle) and Desmond Kavanagh (piano) and in later years Pat Hughes (piano). Dinny McLaughlin (fiddle) also joined them regularly for céilí dances and Feiseanna in the early days. Connie Doherty (piano accordion) carried on the great work of the ceili band with Seamus up until the late 70s. Seamus continued to play for Ceili as the demand arose and played his last Ceili in Mc Grory’s of Culdaff in 2004.
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Seamus and the Clonmany Ceili Band playing jigs Jean Ireland and Jackson’s Morning Brush at a ceili in Mc Grory’s Hotel Culdaff in 2004 .Recorded by Neil Mc Grory .
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Seamus and the Clonmany Ceili Band playing Petronella and Ril Gan Ainm, at a ceili in Mc Grory’s Hotel Culdaff in 2004. Recorded by Neil Mc Grory .
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Seamus and the Clonmany Ceili Band playing The Humours of Bandon at a ceili in Mc Grory’s Hotel Culdaff in 2004. Recorded by Neil Mc Grory .
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Seamus and the Clonmany Ceili Band playing The Gates of Derry at a ceili in Mc Grory’s Hotel Culdaff in 2004. Recorded by Neil Mc Grory .
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Learn the Clonmany Ceili Band Tunes as arranged by Seamus Grant Click Here
See The Seamus Grant Collection – Book of Tunes – Click Here
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Seamus Grant CD
On the 22nd of November 2004, at the age of 70 Seamus Grant recorded 17 tunes with Ryan Mac Neil, piano accompanist, Canada. At the time of recording it was intended that along with these solo tunes from Seamus’s repertoire that the Two-Hand dance tunes and the music of the Clonmany Ceilí Band would also be recorded. Sadly, Seamus became ill and passed away in November 2005.
This CD is the only collection of Seamus’s music to become commercially available. It allows a real glimpse into the technical mastery and the diverse musical tastes of Seamus. On the album Seamus performs compositions of Scott Skinner, James Hill and Neil Gow and from further a field, the music of the great Canadian Fiddlers such as Rudy Meeks and Graham Townsend. Seamus had a great affinity with the music of both Scotland and Canada. Already, an admirer of the music of the MacNeil family of Cape Breton, he was very pleased at the prospect of recording with piano accompanist Ryan MacNeil.
This album is a collection of the music that Seamus played through his lifetime. It includes local dance tunes, ceile dance tunes, airs and melodies popular in Irish music at the time and other pieces made popular by the great fiddle masters.
The recording of this album was organised by the Inishowen Traditional Music Project. (ITMP) https://inishowenmusic.ie/
| Track | Title | Tune | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track 1 | Paddy in London/Scotsman over the Border/Hartigans | Double Jigs | Listen |
| Track 2 | George Owens/Orange and Blue | Strathspeys | Listen |
| Track 3 | Mrs Kenny's Waltz | Waltz | Listen |
| Track 4 | I there weren't any Women in the World | Barndance | |
| Track 5 | The High Level | Hornpipe | |
| Track 6 | Blackthorn Stick/Geese in the Bog | Double Jigs | Listen |
| Track 7 | Dark Inishowen | Air | |
| Track 8 | Saint Annes/Wise Maid/Paddy on the Railroad | Reels | |
| Track 9 | Derry/Newcastle | Hornpipes | |
| Track 10 | East Coast/East York | Double Jigs | |
| Track 11 | Our Highland Queen | Air | Listen |
| Track 12 | Willie Hunters compliments to Dan R McDonald/Stirling Castle | Strathspeys | Listen |
| Track 13 | Kings Fancy/Hawk | Double Jigs | |
| Track 14 | First Century Reel | Reel | |
| Track 15 | Poor Girl waltz | Waltz | Listen |
| Track 16 | Arthur's Seat/Eugene Strattons | Hornpipe | |
| Track 17 | Spey in Spate/Archie Menzies | Reels |
