At Talent Is Timeless, we spotlight some of the incredible songwriters who are part of our community — inviting them to share a bit more about their lives, their creative journeys, and the stories behind their songs. This month, we’re featuring songwriter Fiona Keane from Ireland, who joined Talent Is Timeless in 2024.

Fiona placed in the 2025 Annual Contest in the Blues category with her witty, lighthearted song Two Pounds of Longing. The idea for the song came from a playful phrase her father used to say:

“You’re putting two pounds of sugar in a one pound bag.”

Fiona had just learned to play a swing rhythm on guitar, and she decided to pair the jaunty feel with some cheeky lyrics of her own. What started as a throwaway exercise became a challenge-winning song.

“Shocked and surprised (but delighted!),” she says of hearing the news.

Music has always run in Fiona’s family. Her father had been a singer in a showband in the 1960s, and there was always music in their home. As his health began to decline, Fiona finally picked up the guitar in her 40s and discovered a pent-up well of creativity.

“I instantly had huge pent-up demand from years of desire to write songs. I wrote about one a month for a few years as I was learning new chords. About a dozen or so of the first 20 were about my father.”

Still, self-doubt has been a constant presence.

“I’ve had some opportunities, but have been so riddled with fear of failure that I stopped myself from even having the chance to fail,” she admits.

But watching her father lose his voice to illness pushed her to embrace music more fully. For years, she wrote and performed a new song every month at a local folk club, gradually building confidence and community. Encouragement from the vibrant musical community in Westport, Co. Mayo gave Fiona the momentum she needed.

More recently, she has stepped onto bigger stages with a jazz quartet formed with three other women. They’ve built a full set that includes several of her original songs. Performing a two-hour show in a respected Westport venue was a breakthrough moment.

“It was scary, but I realised that I feel liberated that I don’t have to care so much about failure any more. With age comes a kind of perspective on those things!”

Talent Is Timeless has also been part of her growth, with sessions like the Producer’s Lounge, Piano for Songwriters, and open mics keeping her motivated and engaged.

One surprising detail from her journey: her very first song, The Man From France, came to her fully formed in the middle of the night, scribbled on the back of an envelope.

“Ten years (& several dozen songs) later, I think it still might be the best song I have ever written!”

Her advice to other songwriters over 50 is simple and encouraging:

“The time is now. You will never be this young again!”

Fiona’s story is proof that even long-buried creative impulses can bloom when given space — and that sometimes the lines we inherit from loved ones can become the spark for songs that connect far beyond ourselves.

You can listen to Fiona’s winning song here: Two Pounds Of Longing

And Connect with Fiona on Talent Is Timeless here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/members/peachyk/