Tributes have poured in from the world of music for The Chieftains' fiddle player Sean Keane, who passed away at his Dublin home on Sunday.
His family said the 76-year-old musician died unexpectedly at his home in Rathcoole on Sunday morning. His brother James Keane paid tribute to him in a social media post, where he described Sean as his "wonderful, kind and brilliant fiddle playing big brother".
The renowned fiddle player was born in Drimnagh in 1946, and joined The Chieftains in 1968 and performed with some of the trios and duets formed by Paddy Moloney in the 1960s. Mr Keane also recorded a solo album, Sean Keane, along with a duet album with his fellow Chieftain Matt Molloy.
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The Irish trad star has been remembered by the National Concert Hall who paid tribute to him. They wrote on Twitter: "We're deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Seán Keane.
"A talented musician whose music transcended cultural boundaries & inspired listeners from all over the world. Our condolences go out to his family & friends during this time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam."
Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said Keane had been “a giant of Irish trad music." Tributes to Mr Keane also came in from US Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin, who recalled how he had recently performed with The Chieftains for President Joe Biden in Ballina during his historic Irish visit.
She wrote in a social media post: “Just weeks ago, Sean performed for President Biden in Ballina. Sean’s remarkable career saw him play with the worlds greatest musicians, and collect 6 Grammy awards with The Chieftains, bringing traditional Irish music to a new audience in the US and around the world. May he rest in peace”.
Ms Cronin added that President Joe Biden was “genuinely moved" to see The Chieftains together again for one last time. Meanwhile, the Irish Traditional Music Archive described Mr Keane as "one of the greatest ever exponents of Irish traditional music".
They said in a statement: "His powerful fiddle playing married technical virtuosity with an incredibly insightful and sensitive understanding of what made Irish traditional music distinctively beautiful."
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