PLEASE TAKE 2 MINUTES TO READ ABOUT MIKE AND HIS SONGS He has recently been crowned winner of TG4's Glór TÃre. This was a singing contest that had a viewership of 130,000 on its final night last May. He had the pleasure of singing songs from some of his favorite artists and even got to showcase his own song in the Grand Final "Celebrate Love". The experience was very emotional for Mike as the winner was decided by the public.
He is currently writing songs for a new album that will be due out in October.
Mike Keenan Lives with his wife Teresa in Ahascragh County Galway and works as a Psychiatric Nurse in Roscommon. He was born and reared in Ferbane County Offaly in Ireland by his parents along with his 4 brothers and 2 sisters. Mike was taught RESPECT from a very young age. When his mother died in 1987 prematurely at the age of 48 he was 23 and working as an engineer in Galway. His mother Joan's passing had such a profound affect on him that he literally changed his whole life around. He began to search for answers, the philosophical and spiritual way, and being able to hold a note and play a chord Mike was able to make a few bob busking and in turn met people from all walks of life. He worked on retreats and followed up on his "sense of purpose" by becoming a general nurse. After working as a nurse for 6 years he then crossed over to psychiatric nursing and can be found working his ward today as he cares for his patients with an understanding mind and a soft persuasive tone. This is how he came to write his own music. To date Mike has recorded 8 albums and has been involved in many charity fund raisers. The current project is ALMAS (a charity in Africa that helps children who are affected by the Aids crisis). Described as "a social commentator with a difference†his songs come from personnel experiences and his devout faith.
This is how Mike describes the 3 songs on this page.
“CELEBRATE LOVEâ€
Simply this is a song about APPRECIATING & RESPECTING. I had my sister Siobhan in mind when I wrote it back in 2001, shortly before her wedding to Gerry, my new brother.
"THE BALLAD OF ROBERT KELLY"
This song came from a chance meeting I had with a young man on a flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam. I was coming from the gospel music awards in Minneapolis. He was a Marine Commando from San Diego heading for Iraq. Sitting next to one another we both shared about our lives and our journey's ahead. Sitting in the airport in Amsterdam awaiting a connecting flight home to Ireland I reflected on how I had been inspired by this experience and deeply moved by our conversation. This new song owes its beginnings to scribbling on the back of a boarding pass that spilled over onto a napkin or two in the coffee shop.
Mike Keenan's ....Anti War Song
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"THE BEAUTY INSIDE".
This song was written in the summer of 1986.
One day while I was busking in New York's Time Square a young lady came over to me and asked if I could play a Ralph McTell song "The Streets of London". I gave it my best effort and after she heard it she became very upset and began to tell me that it reminded her of home which was in the west of Ireland. I proceeded to pack up my guitar case. With the few bob that I had made I asked this beautiful red haired lady to accompany me for a cup of coffee.As we walked through central park on a beautiful summer’s day she told me of her carefree life back in Ireland and how easy it was to the life she led in America. She like many people fell in with "the wrong crowd". She became a drug addict and then a prostitute, as a means to support her habit. She felt ashamed and worthless and scared that she could never gain her respect back thus feeling she could never return home to Ireland. She did see the beauty inside of herself and so did others.
We have just upgraded the mobile payment option to make it even easier for fans to buy 'The Beauty Inside', which is currently for sale on downloadmusic.ie.
For 1 euro, users can now buy 'The Beauty Inside' by texting 'music' followed by your artist id (211) to 57501
Now you know more about the man behind the music he would be delighted to hear your comments. Write to Mike Keenan
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