Ronan Kealy, known as Junior Brother (born 1993), is an Irish alternative folk singer-songwriter from County Kerry.[1][2]
Junior Brother | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ronan Kealy |
| Born | 1993 (age 31) Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland |
| Origin | County Kerry |
| Genres | alternative folk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | guitar, tambourine |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels | Strange Brew |
| Website | juniorbrother |
Early life
Kealy grew up in County Kerry. He attended St Brendan's College, Killarney and studied English in University College Cork and Ballyfermot College of Further Education.[3]
Career
Junior Brother moved to Dublin in 2014 to begin his career.[4] His stage name is taken from a character in the Elizabethan play The Revenger's Tragedy.[5] He was named as one of RTÉ's Rising Irish Stars of 2018,[6] and as one of The Irish Times' "Irish music contenders ready to break through in 2019". His first album, Pull The Right Rope, was nominated for the Choice Music Prize.[7] In a 4-star review for The Irish Times, music journalist Tony Clayton-Lea wrote: "...the tales told here are full of wide-eyed wonders and keen observations. Between the clatter of one and clarity of the other, Junior Brother’s songs are the real deal."[8] Music website The Last Mixed Tape wrote of the album: "An album of pure expression, Pull The Right Rope is a masterclass in the sheer joy of creation."[9] In March 2019 he appeared on The Tommy Tiernan Show,[10] and in April 2020 on Other Voices (Irish TV series).[11]
Discography
EP
- PowPig/Junior Brother (2019; a 4-A-side single with fellow artist PowPig)
Studio albums
Awards and nominations
Choice Music Prize
| Year | Nominated Work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Pull The Right Rope | Album of the Year | Nominated[14] |
RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards
| Year | Nominated Work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Pull The Right Rope | Best Folk Album | Nominated[15] |