Seosamh Ó hÉanaí aka Joe Heaney (aka Joe Éinniú) Irish: (1919-1984) was one of the greats of traditional Irish singing (sean nós).
Born and raised in the village of Carna, Co. Galway, he spent most of his adult life abroad, living in England, Scotland and NYC. Most of his repertoire (estimated to exceed 500 songs) was learned while growing up in Carna.
He emigrated to London in 1949 where he worked on building sites and became involved in the folk-music scene. At the invitation of the Newport Folk Festival, he went to America in 1965 after that he decided to move to the US and settled in New York City. He was also invited to Australia in 1981. From 1982 to 1984, he was an artist-in-residence at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Féile Chomórtha Joe Éinniú – the Joe Heaney Commemorative Festival – is held every year in Carna.
Heany's biopic, SONG OF GRANITE, was Ireland’s submission for the Foreign Language category at the 2018 Academy Awards.
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| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Oct 1919 | |
| Date of Death | 1st May 1984 | |
