Haunting song by Dawn Doherty wins major accolade
A HAUNTING song about emigration won a major accolade for Dawn Doherty at last month's All-Ireland Fleadh Ceoil in Ennis.
Dawn, formerly from Maryland, Castlebar, but now resident in New York, collaborated with well known Mayo broadcaster and songwriter Seamus O'Dubhtaigh (Jimmy Duffy) in composing the ballad ‘Down by the Trimogue Side’.
The Trimogue, of course, is a well known river in Aghamore, Seamus's home patch.
The ballad, sung by the dulcet voiced Dawn, won the All-Ireland singing competition for newly composed ballads.
The former teacher at St. Angela's National School, Castlebar, previously won the same award about 12 years ago when the Fleadh was held in Ballina.
She says: “When I decided to take part in the Fleadh this year and enter into the newly composed ballads section, I wanted to sing a song that was personal to me, a song that I could connect with and relate to.
“I figured there would be a lot of entries relating to the 1916 Rising this year, but for me a song about emigration was a perfect choice, as I emigrated to New York nearly three years ago.
“My parents, Maryanne and Joe Doherty, also emigrated to New York many years ago, before I was born. I always remember them talking about how hard it was back then and the lack of employment in Ireland.
“What better man to co-compose a song about emigration with than Seamus Duffy? Seamus and I had many conversations on the phone from New York to Mayo. That's how it all came about.”
It's not the first time that Dawn and the versatile Seamus have collaborated musically.
“I have learned many songs from Seamus down through the years, so I was honoured to work with him this year,” she explains.
This year has been a busy and productive one for the young musician. She recently graduated from Lehman College University, New York, with a first class honors Masters Degree in Science and Education.
This is Dawn's second masters degree. Her first Masters in Music Therapy was obtained at the University of Limerick.
Dawn is now a qualified primary school teacher in maths, science, literacy and social studies working for the New York State Department of Education.
She is specialising in early intervention with children with special needs.
Recently, she opened up her own school of music, The Dawn Doherty Academy of Irish Music and Dance, located at the Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers.