Seán Keane, a masterful fiddle player and key member of the Irish folk band The Chieftains, died unexpectedly on May 7 at his home in Rathcoole, County Dublin. He was 76.

The news came just weeks after The Chieftains reunited to welcome US president Joe Biden as he visited his ancestral places of origin.

Born in 1946, Keane’s musical journey took him from the Dublin suburbs and into a remarkable career that led to him winning six Grammy Awards (with The Chieftans) and playing traditional Irish music to audiences worldwide.

Keane’s virtuosity on the fiddle, combined with his ability to captivate audiences with heartfelt performances, earned him widespread recognition and admiration from folk music fans and musicians alike.

Seán Keane, 1946-2023

Keane grew up in a musical family. Both parents were excellent fiddle players and he took to the instrument from the age of five. A precocious talent, he attended the Dublin School of Music from 12 to 16 studying classical violin, which he later credited with strengthening his technique and broadening the scope of his musical ambition.

He left school to become an apprentice boilermaker, later working as a post office technician. All...