Come March you might see a young Irish lad running a marathon down Sandy Bay way. This young man would be Nigel Connell the drummer in Irish singing legend, Daniel O’Donnell’s band. Nigel will be touring Tasmania with Daniel and Mary Duff in March. Chatting on the phone Nigel talks to me about his career thus far. The man with the beautiful voice can master many styles from pop, country, opera and more and is considered by many as doing one of the best versions of Irish classic, Carrickfergus you will ever hear. There is also an excellence capacity on the drums in addition to the singing. It wasn’t always that way, in fact it was Nigel’s brother that was touted as being the drummer of a very musical family but somehow Nigel, self-taught, is carrying the Connell drumming skills on an international scale. Back to that marathon, Nigel has some solid experience behind him having successfully completed in the Dublin city Marathon in 2002, this being in aid of the Bone Marrow and Leukaemia foundation.
Nigel Connell hails from County Meath in Ireland. County Meath historically was the seat of the high kings of Ireland and the high kings reigned in a time that had very little written history and so bards, men of words, were required to tell the stories in the oral tradition. One can only guess that Nigel with eclectic ability in words and in the writing and performing of his own songs is something akin to a modern day bard.
There is more to Meath than its royal associations. Meath is also a county renowned for its love of sports, horse racing and golf being two of the most prominent. It’s no surprise that Nigel also comes from a fitness oriented family with a cousin who is a fitness instructor. Nigel also enjoyed indulging in a little tennis last time he was in Hobart, but his athleticism doesn’t obscure his real love which is music.
Nigel comes from a very talented musical family, his Mum and Dad and brother are all musicians. His Mum provided the singing voice and his Dad the guitar playing ability. When Nigel was young they travelled the pub circuit in Ireland, a thing Nigel can’t imagine parents doing in today’s Ireland even though the no smoking rule is now enforced.
Looking at Nigel’s resume you are impressed for all he has achieved in such a short time. Nigel appeared in Eurosong, which is the Irish lead up to the Eurovision. Each year hopeful Irish talents perform a song and one is selected to be the Eurovision entry. Indeed he is held in such high esteem Nigel was offered to sing a new song for entry this year but unfortunately his commitments with the Daniel O’Donnell tour to Australia and New Zealand will see him in Auckland at the time of the competition. He was even asked to do backing vocals on the Jedward entry by Eurovision royalty Linda Martin, a previous Irish winner of the contest but again, his commitments wouldn’t allow him to participate.
Nigel has worked with many well-known Irish musicians including Miss Martin as well as Mick Flavin, Marc Roberts, Mary Duff and of course Daniel O’Donnell. As already noted he is blessed with a voice that can sing anything from classical to country music to Pearl Jam! in fact he has his own Pearl Jam tribute band called ironically ‘Pearl Jem’.
Previous to the trip to New Zealand and Australia Nigel accompanied Daniel O’ Donnell on a Caribbean cruise which saw him perform 8 one hour 40 minute shows. The task was not easy as the cruise had a little turbulence but judging from Nigel’s get up and go attitude it would have caused him little bother. Similarly, he talks about the bothersome aspect of air travel and having to sit still for long periods of time, especially on a long trip to Australia. He just wants to be doing something all the time.
Not that he would forego a trip to Australia albeit the lengthy journey, as the links to Australia are strong with cousins in Canberra and Brisbane and other connections too, including a Tasmanian one with his old school friend having done some work in agriculture in Tasmania. On hearing Nigel was about to tour Australia and Tassie she said ‘he would love Tasmania’ not knowing he has been here before with Irish songstress Mary Duff on her solo tour.
There is a serious side to the happy go lucky Nigel. He wants to inform people about depression, especially the kind effecting people in Ireland now, with the economic situation as it is. Nigel is planning, when he returns from this tour to work on a special song that will raise awareness of the condition and hopefully go some way to alleviating it. It won’t be the first time Nigel has recorded for charity. Another organisation he has worked hard to help is Ireland’s Jack and Jill foundation (http://www.jackandjill.ie/) which helps children with neurological conditions. Nigel wrote a song for the foundation called ‘Keela Mae’.
Please consider supporting this thoughtful and wonderful entertainer as he tours with Daniel O’Donnell’s band. March 13 in Hobart at Wrest Point Casino show starting, at 7pm, and April 1 in Launceston, show starting at 8pm.
Paula Xiberras
