Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane 28 June 2009

Subject: RE: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane 28 June 2009
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 02:36 PM

I had the honour of booking Sarah and Rita Keane on to a festival I ran in 1978. Their performances entranced audiences throuhout that weekend, and it is one of my proudest boasts that I was able to bring them to England. They made the most beautiful vocal music I have ever heard. I didn't know they had made a second album. I must get it. Farewell Rita the great. Thank you a thousand times for your matchless music. My condolences to Sarah and the rest of the family. Burl.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane 28 June 2009
From: GUEST,Mary Carroll
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 05:16 PM

I have happy memories of sitting by the fire with Sarah and Rita and my grandmother, who was their aunt. Also of playing shop in the garden with Dolores.

May she rest in peace

Subject: RE: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane 28 June 2009
From: GUEST,gerry forde
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 03:04 PM

my heart is sad as i remember rita, sarah,tom,matt senior and brendan burke playing in my parents pub when we were young. i visited them in january and spent a sunday evening by the fire with them both talking about all the wonderful people their music brought together. her spirit will always live where the music and songs are respected.good bye for now dear friend.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane 28 June 2009
From: GUEST,Jerome McCormack
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 04:35 AM

I have many happy memories of Rita and Sarah from my childhood spent in Caherlistrane with my grandparents. Rita was a star in the true sense of the word.
May She Rest in Peace

Subject: RE: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane 28 June 2009
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 03:56 PM

Oh God! Sarah and Rita made a complete wreck of me once in a pub in Listowel, when they sang Lord Donegal. I stood there feeling sledgehammered, with the tears streaming down my face. Wonderful, the two of them. Absolutely wonderful. And we'll never see anyone like them ever again.

Subject: Obit: Sarah Keane
From: GUEST,Shay Black
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 03:27 PM

I heard at lunchtime today that the death has taken place in Galway of the traditional singer Rita Keane. Rita, the aunt of singers Dolores and Sean Keane, died at the ripe old age of 86. She and her elder sister Sarah, who survives her, are regarded as two of the most significant collectors and performers of songs in Irish and English from the East Galway countryside. They began their careers in the 1930s, playing and singing with the Keane's Ceilí Band. In the 1960s they recorded a collection entitled 'Once I Loved'. More than twenty years later they released a second album, 'At the Setting of the Sun'. Rita and Sarah Keane were awarded numerous awards for their contributions to Irish traditional music, including the TG4 Lifetime Achievement Award. Both women have had a major impact on successive generations of traditional singers, including singers in my own family.

May the deep peace of the quiet Earth hold her.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 12:30 PM

Sad that she is gone, but what a wonderful legacy.

(Thanks for the links. When it is someone musical, we like to include the full text:)


Traditional singer Rita Keane dies, 86

The death has taken place of the traditional singer Rita Keane. She was 86.

Ms Keane, who was an aunt of singers Delores and Sean Keane, died in hospital in Galway last night.

Rita Keane and her elder sister Sarah, who survives her, are regarded as two of the most significant collectors and performers of songs in Irish and English from the East Galway countryside.
Advertisement

The sisters began their careers in the 1930s, initially playing and singing with the Keane's Ceilí Band.

In the 1960s they recorded a highly acclaimed collection entitled 'Once I Loved'.

In 1985 they released a second album, 'At the Setting of the Sun'.

In 2006 Rita and Sarah Keane were awarded the TG4 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to traditional music and song.

Paddy Maloney of the Chieftains, who worked closely with the sisters, said that their unique style of unison singing brought an incomparable and haunting beauty to their work.

They also had a major impact on successive generations of traditional singers.


Story from RTÉ Entertainment:
http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0629/keaner.html

Subject: RE: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane
From: open mike
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 12:17 PM

She will be missed, luckily the music lives on.

Subject: RE: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane
From: maeve
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 11:54 AM

How fortunate we are that the songs were passed on. May they continue to be sung with respect for the tradition and source singers, and delight in the honour of passing them along to new voices.

maeve

Subject: RE: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane
From: MartinRyan
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 11:51 AM

Click here for news report.

Regards

Subject: RE: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane
From: MartinRyan
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 09:50 AM

Click here for a short review of the CD reissue of an LP they made many years ago. There's a sample (Real Audio) to give an idea of their style.

Regards

Subject: RE: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane
From: Alice
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 09:22 AM

Oh, how sad.
My sympathy to family and friends.

Subject: Obit: Rita Keane of Caherlistrane
From: MartinRyan
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 09:18 AM

Rita Keane of Caherlistrane in East Galway, died last night. With her sister Sarah, she had a significant impact on traditional singing in Ireland. Dolores Keane, of De Danann and other fame, was her niece and learned many of her songs from the aunts. The extended family contains many other fine singers and musicians.

Regards