On the spot with: Trillick’s trad talent Sean Magee

By Rebecca McGirr

Originally from Fermanagh, talented multi-intrumentalist Sean Magee has recently relocated to the Red Hand county, with a move just across the border to Trillick. An All-Ireland fiddle champion at the age of 14, Sean learnt from the best. His first music teacher was Pat McManus, from Fermanagh’s rock legends Mama’s Boys. The tireless musician is a regular performer in venues across Tyrone

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?

Lie on the sofa in my dressing gown until lunchtime, without worrying the postman will judge me for being still in the dressing gown at 1pm!

What is your least appealing habit?

I couldn’t think of anything here so I had to ring my fiancée Áine… and she said that my worst habit is ringing family 50 times a day!

What is your greatest trait?

I would say a good trait of mine is that I am keen to learn new things! At the moment I have been learning the piano and I have just got myself a drum kit as I have always wanted to play both.

If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

Áine is saying here to ask him that when you die, do you have to work ghost jobs or is that work life finished as well?

Did you have a role model as a youth?

Yes, so I went to music lessons from the age of seven to the legend that is Pat McManus (Mama’s Boys) and I would still to this day always look up to Pat!

How would you describe Tyrone to someone who has never been here before?

As a Fermanagh man who has just moved to Tyrone (Trillick, so just about in Tyrone) I would have to say it’s not too bad! But no it’s a great place to live! A very friendly place with a great community spirit. The football’s all right, too, I suppose…

What are you watching on television?

Myself and Áine had been isolating with Covid at the beginning of the year and we watched some brilliant series on Netflix. First was Stay Close which was very good and then we watched After Life which was a brilliant series!

Tell us a song that reminds you of your childhood.

It’s actually a song called ‘Ballyconnell Fair.’

My dad is a musician himself and would have been out gigging all around the country as we grew up and still is, but when I was around 10 years old I started going to play some gigs along with him and if it was a local early gig my younger brother Jamie and younger sister Eli Rose, would come along too and we would sit up on three barstools on stage and sing ‘Ballyconnell Fair’.

Who is your favourite musician?

Favourite musician is a tough one! I enjoy a lot of good music. But to name a few would be obviously as I mentioned previously the great Pat McManus for his rock gigs! For trad music, the likes of Máirtín O’Connor, Zoë Conway, Martin Hayes, Sharon Shannon.

Also really like, Ryan McMullan, Ed Sheeran, The Cranberries, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban….The list goes on, too hard to pick just one!

What is your favourite film?

Harry Potter! I could probably act out the full collection of films from start to finish at this stage.

What is your favourite memory?

Most recently, myself and Áine got engaged in Lanzarote and we had a brilliant holiday with friends and family so that’s a fresh good memory.

And your saddest?

Not many sad memories, thank God. But we lost our pup Sophie while on holiday a few years ago, which after a few holiday beers was extra sad…

What makes you angry?

When I was in primary school I was a bit of a handful and if there wasn’t a Dairy Milk Whole Nut Bar waiting for me on the bench when I got home from school, I was known to lose the head a bit.

Still enjoy a Dairy Milk now and again, but luckily the temper has faded over the years, haha.

Has there been a defining moment in your life that has got you to where you are today?

Not really a defining moment I don’t think. But more just constantly working hard at my music from a young age and I never really had a plan B so if plan A didn’t work I was in trouble, so luckily it paid off and I am loving life at the moment.

What is the most embarrassing thing you have done?

Probably this interview as I’m dyslexic, so half of the words I’m sure are spelt wrong so I’m hoping Rebecca from The Tyrone Herald can proof read this and rectify my mistakes please.

What is your most treasured possession?

My instruments I would say. Obviously instruments don’t come cheap but for their sentimental value I would have to say that. Oh, and Elsa my dog!

Do you have a catchphrase?

“Just booked flights.”

What’s your drink of choice?

Coffee in the morning. A beer in the evening!

Who would play you in a film of your life?

Mark Wahlberg as he looks a bit like my father! Possibly a wee bit taller than dad though.

What has been your greatest achievement?

Probably becoming All-Ireland fiddle champion when I was 14. I worked very hard for it and to actually win it just topped it off.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

A low whistle tune written by Pat and John McManus called ‘The Awakening’. They had formed a band in the late 90s called Celtus and that tune was dedicated to their younger brother Tommy who was the drummer for their former rock band Mama’s Boys! Lovely tune.