'A great sense of relief': Frankie Gavin on making up with estranged bandmate Alec Finn before he died 

A very public spat eventually saw the De Dannan duo reconciled, and an upcoming concert in Cork will pay tribute to Finn and the late Seán Ó Loingsigh

Alec Finn and Frankie Gavin in their De Dannan days. 

“An awful pity and a waste of a great lifelong friendship” is Frankie Gavin’s reflection on his infamous split with fellow Dé Danann founder member Alec Finn.

Following the 2003 break-up of the trad super-group, the pair’s wrangle over the use of the band’s name came to a head in 2009 in a storm of solicitors’ letters and copyright claims, with a wider circle of musicians becoming embroiled in a very public spat on RTÉ’s Liveline programme.