BIOGRAPHY

I was born in Derry City in 1979 and come from near a small town called Dungiven, which is nestled at the foot of the Sperrin Mountains, in County Derry, in the north of Ireland. I am the third in a family of nine, and have a sound background and interest in the field of bodhrán making and Irish traditional music.

My Father, Seamus O'Kane is a renowned bodhrán maker. I have always been fascinated in the construction and sound of these and assisted him in making them since I was 12 years old, making my first complete bodhrán when I was 15. I continued to help out during evenings and weekends until I went to University in Liverpool (where I completed a furniture design/making degree concentrating in furniture design and making and silversmithing). I used to help every Summer/Easter/Winter when I returned home from University. I moved home to help him out when he was ill, where I stayed for 2 years, until he recovered. I then moved to London after getting got married. When I am at home in Ireland, I still assist him in the making of his bodhráns, which he has been developing for 48 years. His design has inspired and heavily influenced countless other bodhrán makers. I hope to keep developing the design and construction of bodhráns for many years to come.

I still get the Lambeg goatskins that I use, through my Father, as he has great access to some of the best skins available.