Eleanor celebrates new album with city concert

Arts Week with Judy Murphy

Singer Eleanor Shanley will celebrate the release of her latest album, Forever Young, with a concert at An Taibhdhearc Theatre in Galway’s Middle Street on Saturday, November 7, as part of a national tour.

Forever Young features 12 beautifully arranged and performed tracks, including Bob Dylan’s Forever Young, Eddie Reader’s Dragonfly and the Beatles’ In My Life.

Thom Moore’s Gorgeous and Bright, which was the first radio single to be taken from the new album, was the most played song on RTÉ Radio 1 this summer and also enjoyed extensive airplay on the country’s independent stations.

“All the songs on the album are reflective of where I am at in my personal life and career,” explains the Leitrim-born singer who now lives in East Galway.

Forever Young a very personal recording and the title track is a tribute to Eleanor’s late father whose attitude to life is perfectly captured in the song, she says.

“He died at 83 and even in his 80s he used to drive people to old folks’ parties, but he wouldn’t go in because they were ‘for old people’,” she says with a laugh. “He felt if you had your health, you should be young in your heart and mind.”

With some justification Eleanor describes Forever Young as the favourite of all her 14 albums and says much of the credit for the final result must to Donogh Hennessy, a former member of Lúnasa and the Sharon Shannon band.

Most of the album was recorded at Donogh’s studio in Dingle and he was a great support, according to Eleanor.

“He listened to me all the way and was open to everything I suggested.”

Donogh also plays guitar on the album, joining fellow musicians Paul Kelly (mandolin, fiddle), Eamonn De Barra (keys, whistle), Martin Brunsden (double bass), Jim Higgins (drums) and Frankie Lane (dobro and backing vocals. Gavin Murphy also added some beautiful string arrangements to a selection of tracks.

Renowned for her unique interpretation of Irish, folk and roots songs, Eleanor first came to the public eye when she joined Galway band De Danann in 1990.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.