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Sad news that Dennis Cahill passed away yesterday. In addition to being a wonderful guitar player he was also no slouch on the mandolin, recall seeing himself and Martin Hayes performing several times where Dennis did a couple of tunes on what looked like a Collings MT-2.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Was he ill? I always admired his guitar work.
From what I have read, it appears that he had been ill for a bit. Very sad news.
A lovely guy too. I met him after a gig in the Cathedral in Kilkenny. We chatted for ages about his guitars, my wife had to interupt us to drag me away!
Chatted with him briefly at Orkney FF in 2017, and he said he was tired of touring, needed a break after 30 years of it.
Maybe he was already unwell.
A fine musician on mandolin and guitar, restrained and intuitive.
My wife and I first started seeing him with Martin and Midnight Court when they would play in St. Paul. Always like the way he sang Vincent Black Lightning.
Was amazed at how he totally changed his guitar playing to fit in with Martin Hayes when they became a duo. Lovely music. Hadn't seen them in quite a long time. Last time was probably 15 or so years ago when we drove 50 miles to see them at the Sheldon Theater in Red Wing, MN.
Hayes & Cahill were one of the greatest things that ever happened to music. Not just Irish music — all music. Loved his understated elegance. This is a tragic loss and I'll cherish the handful of times I got to hear him play.
Very sorry to hear this news. I fondly remember listening to, and being really interested by his guitar accompaniment along with Martin Hayes.
One of the things that fascinates me about guitar accompaniment to Irish music, is that there are almost as many ways of doing it as there are players. Dennis was certainly an original, he has his own way of playing that was completely unique, at least as far as I know. RIP, a great loss.
Need to make a correction - never heard Dennis sing Vincent Black Lightning. That was a different band. Dennis sang Ford Econoline in Midnight Court.
That's sad news, I had the good fortune to catch Dennis and Martin Hayes a number of times live. Always a stellar performance from those two, I will hunt up my Martin Hayes CDs tonight and have a listen, R.I.P. Dennis and thanks for the inspired music.
I saw him play a few times with Martin Hayes. A great guitarist who will be missed.
Dennis had such a calm and sensitive approach to music. It brought a whole new way of hearing rhythm and harmony, so different from the showy 'outward' approach.
I'd love to find a recording of his mandolin playing. As that probably is focused more on the melody than accompaniment, to see how he deals with ornaments and double stops etc.
He will be missed indeed. Another hero gone.
https://youtu.be/Qhfm8OHU75k
Just found this one...
https://youtu.be/IOEX0tl0oX0
Having discovered the music late in life and living about an hour from Chicago I really regret not having seen and heard Dennis Cahill in person. It’s one of those sad life lessons to take in the music at every opportunity. I had heard he was ill a while ago, probably after he had cut back on performing. Chicago is a trek but it’s time I take the train to hear the talent while they and I am still standing. What a loss. I took in a session last Sunday and was inspired, This Sunday, I’m taking in a different session. I’m just listening and having a pint, I’m not ready to play in public, but there are masters to be heard . An hour’s train and a bus are nothing to hear these talents.