i need some help, can’t find name of the artist singing this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgTPRv-EpKo
i like it very much. thank you!
Sounds dead like Joe Heaney to me. He’s pretty much the sean nos guy and you’ll have no trouble finding him on the Interweb. The tune is called “Cunnla.”
Thank you, Cathy. I’ll try to find it out.
His name’s sometimes spelled (Seosamh Ó hÉanaí). I believe he’s the ‘source’, or at least one of them, for the song Cunnla. He had versions in Irish, English, and a macaronic version with both.
Planxty recorded Heaney’s version of Cunnla on one of their records, with Christie Moore behind the mic.
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When he came to America, he lived for many years in New York, working as the doorman at an expensive apartment building. Among the resident’s was TV talkshow host Merve Griffin. At one point Griffin was travelling in Ireland, and went into the pub in some village. He was astonished to find Heaney’s photograph framed on the wall above the bar. He asked the barman about the photo, and was told ‘that’s the greatest living singer of tradition irish song!’
'But…that’s a my doorman!" Griffin said.
Hi Cathy
That doesn’t sound like Joe Heaney to me. In my opinion it is Ronnie Drew singing.
David
Edited to add Joe singing Cunnla http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pxDmAdozxk
It definitely sounds like Ronnie Drew to me too and I know that the Dubliners recorded Cunla since I have a version of it in my music library.
Matt
Ronnie Drew, without a doubt.
Slan,
D. 
thanks to all. It looks like the singer is Ronnie Drew. After i’ve got his name i made a search and
found this record: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6J_t3jr5WA
- it sounds slightly different, but the voice pattern is very close. Now have to find a CD with it…
The story about Joe Heaney is amazing, did not know it. Thank you s1m0n.
Roman
Greetings from Russia
So sorry! There was a certain basso quality that to me said Heaney; I always thought Ronnie’s voice was a little less profundo if you will.
Thanks for enlightening me (and saving poor mors from an unsatisfying search) !