Deanta, whose name is pronounced Jaunt-a, ranks among Ireland’s foremost traditional Celtic ensembles. The band originated in County Antriam, Northern Ireland, and earned recognition for its precise, collective instrumental work together with the clear, ringing voice of All-Ireland champion singer Mary Dillon. Irish Music Magazine observed that “Unlike some of the other guns currently making waves on both sides of the Atlantic, Deanta have not gone down the well worn route of 'give it a dose of rocket fuel, foot to the floor, out blast The Bothy Band and divil the pillion passenger'.” Jackie Dixon echoed this perspective in the sleeve notes to the group’s self-titled 1993 album, stating, “The old values inherent in traditional music are held intact and are never under threat from modern influences that the band judiciously introduce into their repertoire.” Katie O’Brien, who performed on fiddle and viola, and her brother Eoghan, whose instruments were guitar and harp, laid the group’s musical groundwork. The original lineup also included Paul Mullan on flute and whistles, Clodagh Warnock on bouzouki, fiddle, bodhran, and percussion, and Mary Dillon, who contributed vocals, synthesizer, guitar, and harp. When the ensemble issued its follow-up album, Ready for the Storm, in 1994, Deidre Havlin had taken over Mullan’s role and Rosie Mulholland had joined on keyboards and fiddle. Although Deanta became one of Green Linnet’s strongest-selling artists, the members each kept regular employment and the band seldom toured. Early in 1998 the musicians declared that Deanta would disband.
