LINDA WELBY - Singer-songwriter-musician
I love music and have a great interest in people with stories to tell of the older days of singing and music. I was brought up in a very musical house with sessions on a very regular basis. Local musicians would gather for an all night song and dance affair.
I love all the fleadhs and festivals and enjoy mixing with fellow musicians. My Grandfather, Paddy Doorhy played with the first Ballinakill ceili band and he also played fiddle with the first Leitrim ceili band, he was known far and wide throughout Ireland and won many awards at fleadhs and festivals. A few weeks before he passed away he had won a Connaught championship. Paddy, I would have to add, was also a mechanical genius. He was credited with being the inventor of the brake light for our vehicles and was acknowledged by Fords of Cork. He also wrote a few tunes, one of which is widely known throughout Ireland as been called the Leitrim Jig. My Dad, also Paddy,came from Loughrea and he played drums with accordion player Joe Burke for many years, and he even got a chance to tour America with him. Joe Burke composed a reel for my Grandfather called Paddy Doorhys. My mum Kathleen who also plays a touch of music met my dad by following the group to different venues.She was brought up in the Irish language and came from Carraroe, Co.Galway.
Dad is totally my inspiration and hero. He tauught me drums from knee high on pub gigs where I would sit on his knee and drum for him. I wrote a song for him on my CD called Dear Dad.
Who would I miss most in my life? It would definitely have to be my dad. I would find it hard to see a life without him.
What is in the future for you? well I have a lot of goals in the music business and I write a lot of songs, songs that are sentimental to me...love songs especially. When I feel down and out I write what I'm feeling.
My pet hate...I couldn't mention that! There's one or two....
My favourite singer...I have quite a few, I like all types of music (you wouldn't believe some of it) in Irish I like Sean Keane,Christy Moore, I love Glen Miller and Pat Boone. I like the songs he sings and big into the music style of Seamus Shannon. In country music it's Declan Nerney. I would also be a fan of a bit of jazz. After that it gets complicated.
Many gigs...Too many to mention, may I just say we're kept going...I like my nights off too so I can get to hear other groups and dance...I call it chilling out...
I started out playing drums in a ceili band. I did a bit of drumming with the Leitrim Ramblers and the Shamrock Trio and now it's keyboards with my own band, Cois Tine.