Shaskeen

Galway based Shaskeen celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2010. The band that was originally formed In 1970 to play on Friday nights at the Oxford Tavern in Kentish Town has brought Irish music to millions of people across the world through its performances and recordings over the past four decades. Since 1970, over 2000 Friday nights have passed, but the band and its music lives on, albeit with changes of personnel down the years.

The name comes from the famous Shaskeen Reel - the band has been heavily influenced by céilí music and has always remained true to the ethos that brought Tom Cussen, Benny O Connor, Sean McDonagh, Johnny and Maureen Minogue together all those years ago. The band broke up for a short while in 1972, when Tom and Benny moved back to Ireland from London. However, thanks to a series of coincidences and with the help of P.J. Hernon and John Dooley, Shaskeen was reformed and almost immediately, the band took the traditional Irish music scene by storm. Having friends in Ireland and the UK allowed them to develop and cultivate a fan base in both countries which in turn enabled them to reach people with Irish roots in the US and Europe.

Shaskeen has always travelled extensively and has released no less than 15 albums. Today the band is still steered by Tom, who is joined by Éamon Cotter, Patsy McDonagh, Johnny Donnellan, Pat Costello, Pat Broderick, Tony Howley and Geraldine Cotter.