By Ronan Nolan
“I’m a vagabond from Eireann’s isle Sunburnt thumb stuck up in the air”
Singer, songwriter and artist Joe Dolan who died on January 7, 2008, was a founder member of Sweeney’s Men. The prefix ‘Galway’ Joe Dolan was later applied for late night clarity to distinguish him from the showband singer Joe Dolan of [...]

Frank Harte was born on May 14, 1933, on the banks of the Liffey, at Chapelizod, where his family ran The Tap pub. His introduction to Irish singing came, he said, from a chance listening to an itinerant who was selling ballad sheets at a fair in Boyle. He became a great exponents of the [...]

Christie Hennessy was  born in Tralee, Co Kerry, in 1945, the youngest of nine children. His father, an electrician, played jazz on the accordion, his mother sang Irish traditional songs and they often hosted music sessions at their home on Saturday nights. When Christie was six his father died and he had an unsettled childhood. [...]

Singer, songwriter and musician Andy Irvine was born on June 14, 1942, in Southgate, London. His father was from Scotland and mother from Ireland. He showed an early interest in acting and the skiffle groups of the late 1950s. He started to learn classical guitar and after coming across the music [...]

Described memorably by Nanci Griffith as “the voice of Ireland,” Dolores Keane has an earthy and instantly recognisable singing style.
She was born in Castlehackett, Co. Galway on September 26, 1953. It was not unusual then in a large family for a child to be brought up by close relatives. So Dolores was raised from the [...]

Luke Kelly was born on November 17, 1940, into a working class family in Sheriff Street, a quarter of a mile from Dublin’s O’Connell Street. His grandmother, who was a McDonald from Scotland, lived with the family until her death in 1953. His father worked all his life in Jacobs biscuit factory and enjoyed playing [...]

Tommy Makem was born in Keady, Co Armagh, in 1932. His mother, Sarah Makem, born 1900, and her cousin Annie Jane Kelly were members of the Singing Greenes of Keady. They contributed a [...]

Delia Murphy was born on February 16, 1902 in Ardroe, Claremorris. Soon the family moved to Mount Jennings in Hollymount. Her father, Jack Murphy from near Hollymount, Co Mayo, made his money during the Klondyke gold rush. While in the USA he married Anna Fanning from Roscrea, Co Tipperary and they returned to live in [...]

EWAN McCOLL described him as “the greatest lyrical folk singer in the English language. Paddy Tunney was one of Ireland’s foremost singers. He was also a champion lilter, an entertaining raconteur and an accomplished writer.
He was born in Glasgow on January 28, 1921, one of eight children. His father was also named Patrick and his [...]

The McPeake family of Belfast were one of the few Irish pre-ballad boom groups. That they were better-known abroad than at home is illustrated by a story told about a conversation between Bob Dylan and Bono of U2 in 1984. The legendary singer asked what Bono thought of the McPeakes. The Dublin-born Bono had never [...]

Heidi Talbot’s singing had The New York Times and Village Voice reaching to the top shelf for the superlatives. “A voice that is awe-struck and tender,” said The Times while the Voice found it “exquisite.”
Growing up in Kill, Co. Kildare, Talbot sang in the church choir run by her mother, Rosaleen, at the same time [...]