‘Enormously talented’ De Dannan co-founder Alec Finn dies aged 74
PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins led the tributes yesterday to Alec Finn, the co-founder of seminal folk group De Dannan, who has died aged 74.
A family statement on the Facebook page of Mr Finn’s Oranmore Castle home said: ‘Alec died peacefully at home at 1am on Friday, November 16, surrounded by his wife Leonie and his family.
‘Primarily known as a member of ground-breaking Galwaybased music group, De Dannan, Alec was also a gifted artist, arranger and producer of music.’
The musician was a founding member of the group, which was formed in Spiddal, Co. Galway, in 1974, alongside Charlie Piggot, Ringo McDonagh and Frankie Gavin.
Together, they were credited with bringing Irish folk music to international audiences in the 1970s and 1980s.
A number of influential names in the Irish music scene joined and left the band over the years, including Dolores Keane, Maura O’Connell, Mary Black and Eleanor Shanley.
Mr Finn also embarked on a solo career with his debut album The Blue Shamrock in 1994.
A talented guitarist and Greek bouzouki player, Mr Finn was born in Yorkshire, in the north of England, but settled in Galway in the 1960s where he lived with his wife, the artist Leonie King.
President Higgins said Mr Finn was ‘enormously talented’ and ‘helped bring Irish music to... a global audience’. He said: ‘De Danann grew to become one of the most significant and best loved representatives of Irish music at its best. Alec Finn was also a distinguished solo artist and session musician, playing on a variety of string instruments, but always bringing sensitivity and skill to every performance.’
‘It has been a privilege to know Alec Finn.’
Broadcaster John Kelly tweeted: ‘We have lost so many of the greats in recent times. Another one gone.’