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Ann Gill Morgan began learning the accordion with Johnny Mitchell in the Ranch in the 1960s. One of the people who she would have learned with was Ronnie Kennedy R.I.P. Landen Road. So it was lovely to see Ronnie drop down to the Ballyer Trad Hub on the 7th January 2020, and for him and Ann to meet up after so many years and play a few tunes together.
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Link to enlarge photo www.flickr.com/photos/ballyfermot/6287421892/sizes/l
Johnnie Mitchell Teacher, Fr Bernard, Bernard Mcentee Le Fanu Road, Ann Fox Cassidy Clondalkin, Ronnie Kennedy, Ann Gill Morgan, Jackie Dunne, Susan Scanlon Landen Road, Eoin Condron R.I.P., Maurice Walsh, Eddie Creighton, John Murphy R.I.P. Le Fanu Road, Hilda Cooney Kylemore Drive, Joan Russell Drimnagh. Deirdre Purcell Decies Road
Ronnie Kennedy who plays many musical Instruments started his music career with the St Cecilia's accordion band in the Ranch he has fronted the the Daniel O Donnell Band for the last 27 years
Johnny Mitchell was blind but taught so many young people in Ballyfermot and the surrounding areas music. A lot of these people have made there living today through music thanks to Johnny
Yes my man is in this pic (Ann Gill)
She's the second girl in on the right with the mop of curly hair bow tie.
Thanks
Lisa Reid
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Lovely afternoon / Evening reminiscing about growing up in Ballyfermot with Michael Cassidy, and Ronnie, Kennedy, Friday the 4th May 2018
Ronnie Older brother Christy brought him to see his idol Jimmy Shand who was playing at the Theatre Royal in Dublin. After seen Jimmy and his band he went home and begged his mother to buy him an accordion. She did and he then went to Johnny Mitchell to learn how to play it. Johnny was a blind man, who trained many Musicians in the Ranch on Sarsfield Road. Johnny started up a band called St Cecelia’s Accordion Band and they played at many concerts and dances.
When Ronnie left the band he started playing solo in concerts, Children’s Hospital, and at parties for the senior citizens. He then joined a ceili band. Irish Ceili music was the first type of music he learned and he loved playing it.
Ronnie joined a Country and Western band, and after about four years he left to join folk singer, Johnny McEvoy. They played mostly concerts, which and they travelled a lot to England, Scotland and Wales. And also to the United Arab Emirates. It was on a week's tour with Johnny McEvoy in England that he met Daniel O Donnell. He then Joined Daniel Band in 1986 and played in the band for 30 years
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The above photo Is of Ronnie and Ann when they were learning the Accordion. Their teacher was Johnny Mitchell who had his classes in the Ranch and Johnny was a blind man who taught many girls and boys of Ballyfermot and the surrounding areas many musicals instruments. Some of the Girls and boys went on to earn their living through music all around the world. Ronnie and Ann played the Accordion together for the first time since then at the Ballyer Trad Hub. 26 January 2020
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