www.communityvoice.ie - Art news from Dublin 15

A visit from the gentility

Just when you thought Daniel O’Donnell was a one-off, along comes another country singer from the North West who looks certain to follow in the great man’s footsteps.

Patrick Feeney from Gurteen co Sligo may be only 25 years old but he has already released five albums and has toured America to huge acclaim. Now he is touring Ireland again before returning to the States to copper fasten his already burgeoning reputation. As part of this tour, he brings his eight piece band to Draiocht on Thursday 31st January in a real case of see-him-now-before-he goes-through-the–stratosphere. Patrick Feeney

His recently released fifth album “Gentle on my Mind” features thirteen beautifully melodic tracks including “Moon over Ireland,” a beautiful and original Irish ballad which was written for Patrick by Bill Roberts and subsequently re-arranged and produced by Frank McNamara of “The Late Late Show” fame. And it has been well received too.

“The album has been selling very well,” Patrick told Community Voice. “I’m very fortunate in that I have built up a very loyal fan base here in Ireland and also in America and the UK.

“I’m very happy with the reaction to the album and my record company is already laying down the blueprint for the next album, which will be entirely devoted to classic Irish ballads.”

Of course the comparisons with Daniel are inevitable but does Patrick find that irksome or flattering?
“Firstly, Daniel is a good and loyal friend and mentor,” he replied earnestly. “I was a special guest on his TV Show two years ago, which I am truly grateful for.

“I really do admire his achievements to date. Of course I look up to him! Comparisons will be made and, to me, that’s a great compliment.

“I feel that the audience who come to see the show will be pleasantly surprised. I’m still only 25 and I have been very lucky in that I have enjoyed great success to date but now I feel confident enough to try something different and unique. I want to re-ignite some of the great old Irish classics, for example Danny Boy, Cavan Girl and Go Lassie Go. I want to put my own interpretation on these songs and with the help of my eight piece band, I know that the audience will enjoy the show.”

Born in December 1982 in Battlefield Culfadda, Ballymote, Co. Sligo, Patrick started learning to play his dads drums from the age of four and soon moved on to the accordion and keyboards. Encouraged by his father – also a musician of note - he won a talent competition in Bundoran at the age of twelve and began gigging with his father shortly thereafter.

After fronting the Johnny Loughrey band for a while, Patrick formed his own band and went professional at the tender age of 19. While touring consistently all over the world Patrick still resides with his parents in the beautiful village of Gurteen in Sligo. He has won numerous awards including best newcomer, best single of the year, best album of the year, best entertainer of the year and hopefully many more to come. He is very excited about the future and at 25 years of age, why wouldn’t he be?

“This is my first visit to Draíocht and I can’t wait to perform at such a prestigious venue,” he said. “I started touring America three years ago and I plan to tour the States at least twice in 2008. In fact, that is part of the reason why I have put this show together.

“When I perform in the States, I’m always asked for these great Irish ballads. Now I feel the time is ripe to reintroduce them to Irish audiences.”

Patrick Feeney and special guest Sandy Kelly play Draíocht’s main auditorium on Thursday 31st January at 8pm.

Tickets are €20 / €18.

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