Ciaran Bourke was one of the original members of the Irish folk band The Dubliners, his versatility was his hallmark which included the playing of the tin whistle, harmonica, and guitar, as well as singing. He was the only member of the group to receive a university education. He was also fluent in Irish and translated many of the group’s ballads from the original Gaelic into English.

Bourke collapsed on stage from a brain haemorrhage during a performance in 1974. He never made a full recovery, and eventually died in 1988. Forced to leave the group due to his haemorrhage, he made a final brief appearance with them on The Late Late Show tribute to The Dubliners in 1987.