Public Art
Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre and Brendan artworks
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Seamus Ennis, uilleann piper, broadcaster and folklore and music collector, was born on May 5, 1919, in Jamestown in Finglas, then a rural area of North Co Dublin.
As for his musical talent, "it wasn't off the wind he got it," as Sean Mac Reamoinn once commented. His father was James Ennis, a civil servant in the Department of agriculture, from Naul, Co Dublin, who was a prize-winning musician on several instruments including the uilleann pipes and also a champion dancer. He married Mary Josephine McCabe of County Monaghan in 1916. They had six children.
Seamus finally "came home" in the mid 1970s. He procured a small piece of land in Naul on a farm which had once been his grandfather's. Here he had a mobile home, called Easter Snow, where he lived out the rest of his life.
Seamus died in his home on October 5, 1982. He was aged 63. His graveside oration was given by his friend Seam Mac Reamoinn who said: "Thank you, Seamus, for what you brought to us of joy, of beauty and a sense of belonging."
Dedicated to the memory of Irish Musician, folklore and music collector, Séamus Ennis, The Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre plays host to some of today's foremost musicians, songwriters and Artists.
This Venue's intimate performance space is regarded by many as one of the Irish music scene's best keep secrets, while The Parlour, The Cottage Café and adjacent rooms throughout The Cottage all provide a home and inspiration for stories, art, poetry, music, song and dance.
In 2008 The Seamus Ennis cultural centre commissioned Brendan P Lynch to paint eight watercolours depicting the rich vernacular architecture still surviving in the surrounding landscape of Fingal and south County Meath. Each watercolour is also accompanied with a traditional Irish music dance tune. Each tune is associated with former local musicians and brings together the great wealth of vernacular architecture and rich music, which still exists within Fingal.