Seán Garvey - Artist and Friend (1952-2022)
 

We sit on a bench in the back room of Islandbridge Rowing Club in West Dublin, in the mid-seventies. Seán Garvey and Phil Callery present a folk club here every Friday night and contribute handsomely with their unaccompanied songs. It has been a successful night and, as we share a pint over relaxed conversation, Seán leans in and in that deep voice of his he talks of what the songs and singing mean to him. And through that hoarse whisper I can see and hear his love for this wonderful art form, reaching back in time and digging deep within himself to produce melody and words that are beautiful, personal, passionate, resonant and unique.

I have known Seán since 1962 when our family moved from Ballinskelligs to Cahersiveen. We shared a primary and secondary education in the CBS, street games in the estates of St. Joseph's Terrace and Marian Place, football and soccer in a green area known as the Avenue and competitive football with St. Mary's Football Club. I listened and admired his singing at the ballad sessions in Billy Murphy's and J P O'Neill's pubs in Cahersiveen and throughout the Iveragh peninsula.
 

But it was in Dublin that we began to share our love of music and song through meeting regularly and singing in the various pubs and music pubs like O'Donoghue's in Merrion Row, Slattery's in Capel Street, and Club Conradh na Gaeilge in Harcourt Street. In 1979, when Dónal de Barra and I founded Góilín Singers Club, Seán became a regular visitor and contributor on most Thursday nights in Thomas House. His passion for singing, his repertoire of songs in both Irish and English, and his engaging conversation and mischievous sense of humour enthralled us all and always left us wanting more.
   

Seán Garvey singing at the graveside tribute to Willie Clancy during Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy 2011. Photo: Tony Kearns.

Seán was a multi-instrumentalist and loved to play fiddle, flute and bouzouki in particular. He was an exceptionally skilled guitar soloist and accompanist. His two albums of music and song, Ón dTalamh Amach (Out of the Ground) and The Bonny Bunch of Roses speak for themselves in the high quality of songs and singing, musical accompaniment and background notes on each song. One night at the Mountshannon Arts Festival in East Clare he shared the stage with Martin Hayes, Martin's dad P Joe Hayes, and poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh. Seán was at his best that night and I was glad that Pat Costello and I were able to record the concert for Clare FM Radio. When he came to sing The Bonny Bunch of Roses the room was stillled, his voice capturing every nuance of lyric, melody and meaning. Thankfully it can be heard on the eponymous album. Equally at home in both the Irish and English song tradition, his wonderful rendition of An Bonnán Buí (The Yellow Bittern) is also worthy of special mention.

Seán loved his visits to Clare, and to Miltown Malbay in particular, and in our regular monthly lengthy conversations he always enquired about the musical happenings and personalities of the area. He was a regular visitor to Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy and in more recent years the late Seán Corcoran and he presented afternoon singing workshops to students attending the Summer School. His time here teaching, performing and absorbing the musical spirit of West Clare were some of his most contented moments.
 

Our paths have continuously crossed for over sixty years, from Cahersiveen to Dublin and from Connemara to Clare. In February each year for Éigse na Brídeoige, in his beloved Iveragh peninsula, his was always my first port of call and we concluded each Éigse sharing alternate verses of The Boys of Barr na Sráide. That presence on stage will be deeply missed this coming year, as will the voice, the smile, and the hand grasped in friendship and in song. But the memories of a dear friend, constant companion and a gifted singer will remain constant.
 

To his sons Seán Óg and Eoghan, his partner Laoise, and to his family and numerous friends, we extend our deepest sympathies.
 

Ar dheis Dé go rabh a anam uasal ceolmhar.

Tim Dennehy June 2022