{{Short description|Manx Gaelic singer-songwriter (born 1989)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ruth Keggin | image = FIL 2014 - Femmes Gaéliques - Ruth Keggin quartet - 1377.jpg | caption = Ruth Keggin performing with Nish As Rish at the Inter-Celtic Festival of Lorient in 2014 | image_size = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1989 | birth_place = Port Erin, Isle of Man | death_date = | genre = Folk, Celtic | occupation = musician | instrument = vocals, piano, flautist, whistle<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manxmusic.com/performer_229267.html|title=Ruth Keggin|work=Manx Music}}</ref> | years_active = 2011-present | label = Purt Sheearan Records | associated_acts = Aon Teanga – Un Çhengey, Nish As Rish | website = {{URL|http://www.ruthkeggin.com}} }}
'''Ruth Keggin Gell''' is a Manx Gaelic singer-songwriter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ruthkeggin.websmyth.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/165474_385997101598024_1407062975290500357_n.jpg|title=Celtic Family Magazine Summer Issue 2015|work=celticfamilymagazine.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095715/http://ruthkeggin.websmyth.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/165474_385997101598024_1407062975290500357_n.jpg|archivedate=2016-03-04}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Keggin was born in Port Erin, Isle of Man.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/a-variety-of-world-class-talent-215511|title=A variety of world class talent|work=Isle of Man Today|date=16 June 2017|accessdate=17 August 2025}}</ref> She holds degrees from the University of York and the University of Cambridge.<ref name=CV>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Ruth Keggin Gell|url=https://www.culturevannin.im/aboutus/officers/ruth-keggin-gell/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Culture Vannin}}</ref>
==Career== In 2011, as a member of ''Nish As Rish'', Keggin won in the Best Newcomers category at the 2011 Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany, France.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-14615053|title=Isle of Man folk group wins Celtic festival competition|work=BBC News|date=22 August 2011 }}</ref>
Keggin was awarded a grant by Culture Vannin to produce her 2014 debut solo album, ''Sheear'' ("Westward"), a collection of traditional and contemporary Manx songs praised as "bringing new life into the language with her music."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.culturevannin.im/cms/project_297610.html|title=Ruth Keggin solo album - Sheear|work=culturevannin.im}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-26120451|title=Singer Ruth Keggin 'breathes life' into ancient language|work=BBC News|date=15 February 2014 }}</ref> Keggin's album has held popularity in the Celtic genre, becoming album of the week on Celtic Music Radio<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celticmusicradio.net/album-of-the-week-ruth-keggin-with-sheear/|title=Album of the Week: Ruth Keggin with 'Sheear'|work=celticmusicradio.net}}</ref> and listed as number one in Japan’s ‘Top 10’.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishmusicmagazine.com/charts/top-10-june-2014/|title=TOP 10 June 2014 » Irish Music Magazine|work=irishmusicmagazine.com}}</ref>
Keggin released her second solo album, ''Turrys'' ("Journey"), in 2016. Critic Neil McFadyen, writing for the journal Folk Radio UK, praised the album and called her voice "clear, precise and a joy to hear."<ref>{{cite news |last1=McFadyen |first1=Neil |title=RUTH KEGGIN: TURRYS |url=https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2016/08/ruth-keggin-turrys/ |access-date=2021-03-25 |publisher=Folk Radio UK |date=2016-08-10}}</ref>
In September 2020 Keggin became the Manx Language Development Officer for Culture Vannin, a foundation established by the government of the Isle of Man to promote Manx culture.<ref name=CV/>
In March 2021, Keggin and Scottish harpist Rachel Hair launched a joint crowdfunding campaign to produce a debut duo album to consist primarily of songs in the Manx language. These will include both traditional songs and songs by contemporary Manx musicians. They reached their target goal of £5,000 within 12 hours of launching the campaign and achieved a stretch goal of £10,000 after 48 hours. Some matching funds were provided by Creative Scotland. The album has also received funding from the Isle of Man Arts Council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rachel and Ruth - a debut duo album! |url=https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/rachelandruth/updates#start |website=Crowdfunder |access-date=2021-03-25}}</ref>
==Current and former collaborators==
* Erlend Apneseth - hardanger fiddle * Tom Callister - fiddle<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isleofman.com/News/details/61433/ruth-keggin-cd-album-launch-at-the-centenary-centre|title=Ruth Keggin – CD Album Launch at the Centenary Centre - Isle of Man News :: isleofman.com|work=isleofman.com}}</ref> * David Kilgallon * Vanessa McWilliam - double bass * Margit Myhr - voice, hardanger fiddle * Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin - Irish flautist and sean-nós singer * David Pearce - guitar * Rachel Hair - harp
==Discography== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Title ! Release |- |''Sheear (‘Westward’)''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livingtradition.co.uk/webrevs/psrcd001.htm|title=Living Tradition CD review of RUTH KEGGIN - Sheear|work=livingtradition.co.uk}}</ref> |2014 |- |''Turrys''<ref>{{cite web|author=Robert McMillen |url=http://www.irishnews.com/arts/2017/02/03/news/trad-roots-adventures-in-manx-with-ruth-keggin-s-album-turrys-914198/ |title=Trad/roots: Adventures in Manx with Ruth Keggin's album Turrys |publisher=The Irish News |date= 3 February 2017|accessdate=2017-06-21}}</ref> |2016 |}
==See also== *Julie Fowlis, sings in Scottish Gaelic *Mary Black, sings in Irish *Gwenno Saunders, sings in Welsh and Cornish
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.ruthkeggin.com}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Keggin, Ruth}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge Category:Alumni of the University of York Category:Celtic folk musicians Category:Manx language activists Category:Manx musicians Category:People from Rushen (sheading) Category:Manx-speaking people