Feenish ( FÍGHINIS) the band

Feenish is a traditional Irish music group playing ancestral Connemara dance music handed down from generation to generation. Formed 30 years ago when the renowned Hernon brothers, Marcus (Flute) and P.J. (Accordion) paired up with world class Galway singer/songwriter Don Stiffe. Each established with multiple all Ireland championships between them. When together, the music flows out through them effortlessly as though coming from somewhere else. We often say the music is not ours to own, it is coming from somewhere else and that we are just carrying it on. Feenish combines both lively dance music and the powerful voice of Don Stiffe. Feenish have toured Europe and America bringing a little taste of Connemara around the world with them. The name of the band is taken from the island of Feenish off the coast of Carna on the West Coast of Ireland, an area steeped in a rich culture of music, song and dance called “sean nós”. This Island was the seed to the music you hear today where the echoes of Marcus and P.J.’s great-uncle, Pateen, can still be heard in their music. Pateen Pháraic Mháirtín was a melodeon player on the Island who played for all the gatherings, called times in Irish, where the locals would get together to dance and sing through the dark nights. Marcus and P.J. grew up in a musical home in Rusheenamanagh and have been playing music since they could walk. Seamus Ennis once visited their house on his travels around Connemara, during which time he recorded Irish music and song. They have been playing music together from a very young age and gained recognition for their unique lively dance music which brought them all around the country. They both won multiple All Ireland championships and brought out their first record “Béal a’ Mhurlaigh” in 1989. Since then they have brought out a number of CDs. Marcus has been composing music for 30 years, some of which can be heard on the album “The Grouse in the Heather”. Marcus was commissioned to write a piece for the 25th Anniversary of the Joe Heaney Festival. Joe Heaney was a renowned sean nós singer from the Carna area. The piece was called Siolla gon Ghaoth, which is a line from one of Joe Heaney’s songs “Domhnall Óg”. Recently Marcus was commissioned to compose two pieces for the owner of Ashford Caste, Beatrice Tollman. Don Stiffe (singer/songwriter) has toured the world and has played with many musicians over the years, including Cherish the Ladies, Kilfenora Céili Band, Joe Burke, Frankie Gavin and Sharon Shannon. Don has also brought out many solo CDs. Today Feenish have taken on a facelift as Marcus’s two sons Proinsias (accordion) and Breandán (fiddle) form part of the band bringing their own fresh flavour. They introduced the sean nós dancing; a tradition of old style dancing. They are both Oireachtas champions in this dancing.

Feenish Island