Rónán Ó Snodaigh

Rónán - photo by marcelo biglia

Rónán Ó Snodaigh - Bodhrán, vocals

Rónán Ó Snodaigh was born in Dublin 1970. He is a prolific musician, writer and performer in both Irish and English. He has travelled throughout the world performing with many musicians including Zakir Hussein and  Lisa Gerrard and with the  bands Kíla and Dead Can Dance.

A founding member of Kíla, Rónán is recognized as one of Ireland's best and most innovative bodhrán players and percussionists and a highly original singer songwriter. Described by John Walsh (Hot Press) as 'the living embodiment of Turlough O Carolan and Bob Marley', and by a fan as 'a bleedin legend, The Jimi Hendrix of Bodhrán'

Rónán has also been creating a stir as a singer songwriter in both English and Irish. His songs are lyrically beautiful with edginess to their sound that is quite unique. Somewhere between folk and rock, there is an organic charm to his music, which is as surprising as it is endearing.

Rónán most recent solo recording The Last Mile Home, was released in February 2007 to much critical acclaim in Ireland. Ever the creator and driven by his search for new sounds, the Last Mile Home sees him take another turn in his music, resulting in a more bluesy folk sound.

2003 saw Rónán's first venture into writing with the long awaited publication of Luascadán a stunning collection of his Irish language songs to date. This was followed a year later by the publication of his book of English song lyrics entitled 'Songs'.

The Garden Wars is his first full volume of poetry was published December 2007.

Rónán has  released four solo albums The Last Mile Home(2007) The Playdays (2005), Tonnta Ró (2004) and Tip Toe (2001) as well as seven albums with Kíla the most recent being August's Gamblers' Ballet 2007.

Hot Press readers voted him in the top ten of Irish musicians in their 2004 and 2005 Readers Polls.


 

 Rónán Ó Snodaigh is a refugee from a great tribe of giants. 400 years old, 800 years wise and unable to come to terms with the rigidly structured nature of giant society, he was on the road from an early age. His name was a rumour, his voice a faint cry in the wind. In quiet corners and byways of the world he could sometimes be seen in live performance accompanied by nefarious fellow spirits and assorted musical troublemakers. Once seen he is never forgotten and his fame has spread through the land. Rónán is the orginal song and dance man and the only living proponent of country and giant blues.

Father of 100 children, creator of a thousand songs, Rónán has learnt a thing or two about life and here is your chance to hear why giants sing the blues.

He  is not a prophet, he is only a poet. Open your head, open your heart and hear the song. He 'll make you cry, he'll  make you think, he'll make you get up and dance.

A mad hermit agreed to share his cave with giants, boudhrans, basses and guitars an organ, gate crashed cos he knew it would be a great party.

This is The Last Mile Home - the magic microphone has been found deep in Rónán. A deep brown voice of mountains and valleys sings of a personal quest for the light way of life,  be happy, be strong, be yourself.

Listen, enjoy, believe.