Frankie Gavin

After 25 years at the top with De Dannan …

Frankie Gavin enjoyed more than 25 years of success with De Dannan, the band he helped form with Alec Finn in 1974.

Child Prodigy
Original De Dannan
De Dannan Landmark Albums
De Dannan Name Dispute
Main band page

He and Finn were the ever-present stalwarts of a band that helped to reinvent Irish folk music with their Galway sound and make it popular across the world.

De Dannan made 14 albums together and helped launch the careers of major folk artists like Dolores Keane, Mary Black and Maura O’Connell. The band split in 2003.

Frankie and Hibernian Rhapsody

Fastest Fiddler
In 2010, Frankie Gavin became the Fastest Fiddle Player in the World by hitting 150 beats per minute while playing The Fox Hunter’s Reel.
His achievement at the NUI Galway was verified by independent observers from the Guinness Book of Records.

After the break-up of De Dannan, Gavin spent the following six years pursuing a successful solo career and working with a new band called Hibernian Rhapsody.

The band toured America with the all female group, Women of Ireland.

The two bands joined together for part of the show entitled Celtic Goddess, which featured a celebration of Irish music, song and dance.

Frankie Gavin and De Dannan

In 2009, Gavin decided to perform at the World Fleadh at Castlebar with a new line-up using the name Frankie Gavin and De Dannan.

Former De Dannan members like Mary Black, Dolores Keane and Mairtin O’ Connor joined Gavin for the one-off show.

Promoting his new band as Frankie Gavin and De Dannan led to a dispute with former band member Alec Finn who had registered the name De Dannan when they split in 2003.

The dispute was eventually settled after an exchange of solicitors’ letters.

Jigs, Reels, Rock ‘n’ Roll

Presidential performer
Gavin has performed for several heads of state including US Presidents Bush, Clinton and Kennedy, President Mitterand of France and Prince Charles.

In 2010, Frankie Gavin and De Dannan released a new album called Jigs, Reels, Rock ‘n’ Roll and set off on tour to promote it.

The dates included performances at the World Expo in China and at the Shanghai Arts Festival and Beijing Opera House with the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra.

The new line-up features Gavin on fiddle, flute and whistles, Damien Mullane on accordion, Eric Cunningham on percussion, flutes and whistles, Mike Galvin on bouzouki and guitar, and Michelle Lally on vocals.

For more about Frankie Gavin and De Dannan, click the links below

Child Prodigy
Original De Dannan
De Dannan Landmark Albums
De Dannan Name Dispsute
Main band page