Antoinette McKenna

Antoinette McKenna
Born
Antoinette Bergin

25 April 1952
Dublin
Died30 September 2012 (age 60)
Roundwood, County Wicklow
Occupation(s)Folk musician, harpist
RelativesMary Bergin (sister)

Antoinette Bergin McKenna (25 April 1952 – 30 September 2012) was an Irish traditional singer and harpist from Dublin. She toured with her sister and her husband, both musicians, and made several albums.

Early life and education

McKenna was born and raised in Dublin.[1][2] Her father was from Kilkenny and her mother was from Wicklow; both were musical.[3] She attended Sion Hill Dominican Convent School in Blackrock, and participated in harp and singing competitions in her teens.[4]

Career

McKenna performed as a member of Sean Nua, a quartet first named Magenta Music,[5][6] and accompanied her husband Joe,[7] who learned to play pipes from Leo Rowsome and other members of the famed Pipers Club.[3][8] She also played in ensembles with her sister, musician Mary Bergin.[9][10]

The McKennas performed at festivals in the United Kingdom[11][12][13] and with Sean Nua in Europe,[5] and found a warm reception in the United States. They performed in Vermont and Maryland in 1979,[2][7] in Virginia in 1981 and 1993,[14] in North Carolina in 1983 and 1984,[15][1] in California[16] and at the Border Folk Festival in Texas, in 1983,[17] in Maine in 1983 and 1985,[18] Michigan in 1993,[6] and at the Lowell Folk Festival in Massachusetts in 1997.[19] McKenna "sings laments and ballads in both Irish and English, accompanying herself on the harp to create a haunting, echoing effect," according to a 1985 report.[18] They made several recordings for Shanachie Records, an American label.[9]

Personal life

Antoinette Bergin married Joe McKenna in the mid-1970s; they lived in Dublin.[10][16] She died 30 September 2012, in Roundwood, County Wicklow, at the age of 60.[20][21]

Recordings

  • Magenta Music (1975)
  • Irish Pipes & Harp (1978)
  • The Best Of Joe & Antoinette McKenna (1982)[22]
  • At Home (1992)
  • Farewell to Fine Weather (1992)

References

  1. ^ a b "Irish Musicians to Perform Thursday at The ArtSchool". The Chapel Hill News. 26 August 1984. p. 59. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Celtic harp, pipes players to give concert". The Baltimore Sun. 15 April 1979. p. 99. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "Must for Fans of Irish Music". Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. 18 July 1979. p. 8. Retrieved 16 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ MacGoris, Mary (14 May 1969). "Clergy to the Fore in Feis Ceoil singing". Irish Independent. p. 12. Retrieved 16 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Quartet to Present Irish Songs and Dance". The Virginia Gazette. 27 March 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Pollard, Lauren Ray (10 March 1993). "Irish Stew; Sean Nua mixes traditional ballads with new twists/Lauren Ray Pollard". The Ann Arbor News. p. 17. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b Maurice, Maggie (17 March 1979). "The McKennas: 'I Can't Think of Life without Playing'". The Burlington Free Press. p. 5. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Winick, Steve. "Biography: Joe & Antoinette McKenna". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Antoinette McKenna". Discogs. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Musicians Tune Up for a Piping Hot Concert". Irish Independent. 26 September 2011. pp. T16. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Frame, Don (26 November 1982). "Folk". Manchester Evening News. p. 10. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Tems, Mick (7 November 1988). "Feast in Store for Celtic Music Fans". South Wales Echo. p. 4. Retrieved 16 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Jones, Gwyn (14 August 1998). "Festival folk ready for the main event". South Wales Evening Post. p. 60. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Traditional Irish Music Program Set Tuesday". The News and Advance. 14 June 1981. p. 27. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Ever Heard an Irish Harp? How About Uillean Pipes?". Winston-Salem Journal. 26 March 1983. p. 52. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b "Lively Irish Music to be Featured Monday". Ukiah Daily Journal. 30 September 1983. p. 6. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Festival Attracts International Performers". El Paso Times. 7 October 1983. p. 44. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b Gardner, Chris (10 October 1985). "McKennas return with Irish songs". Evening Express. p. 21. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Alarik, Scott (24 July 1997). "Lend Lowell Your Ears: This year's highlights". The Boston Globe. pp. 96–97. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Antoinette McKenna RIP". Irish Music Magazine. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Death Notice of Antoinette McKENNA (née Bergin)". rip.ie. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  22. ^ "The Best of Joe and Antoinette McKenna". Digital Library@Villanova University. 1982. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
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