Cooley-Keegan Branch of San Francisco
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[ Local Bands ] [ Golden Gate Ceílí Band ] [ Bridge Gap Ceílí Band ]
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 The
Bridge Gap Ceili Band have been an integral part of the Cooley-Keegan
Branch since its founding. Several members were mentored by and played
with Joe Cooley and Kevin Keegan at different times. Members of the
band also play as The Shannon Céilí Band. They are joined
many times by fine piano accordionist Frank Rooney. Miliosa
Lundy (maiden name McWeeney) is from county Leitrim. Joe Cooley
was her mentor, as well as Kevin Keegan. Miliosa came to the United
States in the early 60's. She used to play banjo, but due to
arthritis since the early 80's, she switched to accordion and concertina
(and she excels). Richard
Lundy is married to Miliosa. Richard plays tenor banjo, mandolin,
and guitar among other instruments. He played in a band with Kevin
Keegan during the 70's. Richard grew up in New York city, 57th
and 10th Avenue in Manhattan. His father was from county Down and
his mother from county Mayo. Richard began playing guitar and mandolin
in Irish pubs while attending Fordham University in the Bronx. Lew
Milligan was born in San Francisco. He started playing the fiddle
at the age of 7. There was always music in the house and his older
sisters were
already playing music. Ruth played the piano and piano accordion
and Molly played violin. At age 10 Lew was playing music with
his sisters at
family functions and parties. He gave it up for a time,
but picked up his fiddle again when his daughter began step dancing
in 1984.
His father was born in Co. Down and mother is from Plymouth,
England.John Sherry plays fiddle and can be found at The Plough and Stars in San Francisco many Sundays for the session. John, like our other Bridge Gap musicians, is highly regarded in the Bay Area traditional music community. John has been playing Irish traditional music for about thirty years and is a great source for playing for the sets. John Sweeney was born in Brooklyn, New York. He came from a musical family and started playing the fiddle at the age of 13. John says he was surrounded by Irish music at an early age, and felt it only natural that he was drawn to the traditional sounds of Ireland. John is married to Sue Sweeney (who has graced our St. Patrick's Day float for several San Francisco parades). Barbara Southworth Barb was born in Springfield MA, into a family that loved music. "Everybody played something; Dad sang, and Mom made us practice." Barb started piano lessons at the age of seven. Although trained as a classical musician, Barb has taken detours into folk, jazz and ragtime, coming happily home to Irish traditional music. Barb says her maternal grandmother (Mae O'Farrell) influenced her Irish piano more than any other source. "I can still see my grandmother sitting at the old upright playing away, foot tapping, and I think: if anyone saw Mae, they would know I'm hers." |