Donal Kelly (b.1938)

[source: Máirín Kerrigan]

Donal Kelly is a melodeon player from Roes who has kept many of the older highlands, barndances and jigs from the locality alive in the tradition. He maintains a great memory of many older players from the parish of Inver and recalls that Paddy McDyer played the fiddle for his parents when they were married in 1923. As was the practice at the time, Paddy played ahead of the wedding party all the way to Drimarone Chapel and one of the jigs he played was ‘Haste to the Wedding’. Donal was a regular visitor to the house of Daniel Donnelly Gallagher in the 1950s, a great gathering place for musicians of the locality. He has a great appreciation for different styles and repertoires from Ireland, Scotland and beyond.

Donal Kelly playing the higland ‘The Gravel Walks’.