#OTD in 1939 – Birth of musician and composer, John Sheahan, who was a member of The Dubliners.

19/05/2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

John Sheahan was the quiet one in The Dubliners. In that cast of beardy and hairy rogues and rascals, Sheahan stood out by not standing out. Brought in to stand shoulder to shoulder with founder members Luke Kelly, Ronnie Drew, Barney McKenna and Ciarán Bourke, Sheahan’s playing brought a touch of elegant class to that […]

#OTD in 1961 – The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.

12/03/2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

Evidently, another act failed to show up, and they performed live for a record-breaking 16 minutes, on arguably, the most popular American Television show of the time. This appearance led to the group being signed by Columbia records. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem performed in front of a television audience of forty million people […]

OTD in 1961 – The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.

12/03/2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

Evidently, another act failed to show up, and they performed live for a record-breaking 16 minutes, on arguably, the most popular American Television show of the time. This appearance led to the group being signed by Columbia records. The televised performance and the success of the Clancys’ and Makem’s nightclub performances attracted the attention of […]

#OTD in 1942 – Birth of artist and musician, Phil Coulter, in Co Derry.

19/02/2022.Reading time 4 minutes.

Coulter’s father, also called Phil, encouraged music in the house. He played the fiddle whilst his wife played the upright piano. The younger Coulter recalls this piano, made by Challen, as ‘the most important piece of furniture in the house’. ‘I always stayed away from the fiddle, having inflicted enough pain on my family with […]

#OTD in 1955 – Birth of singer/songwriter, Liam Reilly, in Dundalk, Co Louth.

29/01/2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Liam Reilly was an Irish singer/songwriter and a member of the popular Irish rock band Bagatelle. After receiving an offer from Gus Dudgeon (Elton John’s producer, now deceased) Reilly began a solo career. It didn’t gain much popularity but he wrote some of Bagatelle’s most popular songs during this time such as ‘Somewhere In Europe’. Reilly […]

#OTD in 1951 – Birth of drummer and a founder member of the rock band Thin Lizzy, Brian Downey, in Dublin.

27/01/2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

In his youth, he met friend, co-founder and bass guitarist Phil Lynott, who attended the same school as did Downey. Along with Lynott, Downey was the only constant founder and member of the pioneering hard rock group until their break-up in 1984, although he did opt out of a 1978 tour claiming “exhaustion.” Today, he […]

#OTD in 1918 – Birth of uilleann piper, Willie Clancy.

24/12/2021.Reading time 2 minutes.

Clancy was born into a musical family in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare. His parents both sang and played concertina, and his father also played the flute. Clancy’s father had been heavily influenced by local blind piper Garret Barry. Willie started playing the whistle at age 5, and later took up the flute. He first saw […]

#OTD in 1987 – ‘Fairytale of New York’ by the Pogues and Kirsty McColl reaches no. 2 in the UK charts.

16/12/2021.Reading time less than 1 minute.

#OTD in 1971 – RTÉ bans several patriotic ballads including Dublin In The Green and The Patriot Game.

12/11/2021.Reading time 2 minutes.

‘Merry Ploughboy’ | ’Off to Dublin in the Green’ (Dominic Behan) Performed by The Dubliners Oh, I am a merry ploughboy and I plough the fields all day Till a sudden thought came to my head, that I should roam away For I’m sick and tired of slavery since the day that I was born […]

#OTD in 1981 – The Fureys reach no. 14 in the UK charts with When You Were Sweet Sixteen.

10/10/2021.Reading time 1 minute.

‘When You Were Sweet Sixteen’ (James Thornton) When first I saw the love light in your eye I dreamt the world held naught but joy for me And even though we drifted far apart I never dream, but what I dream of thee I love you as I never loved before Since first I met […]

Stair na hÉireann | History of Ireland

Tag: Irish Music

#OTD in 1939 – Birth of musician and composer, John Sheahan, who was a member of The Dubliners.

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#OTD in 1961 – The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.

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OTD in 1961 – The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.

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#OTD in 1942 – Birth of artist and musician, Phil Coulter, in Co Derry.

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#OTD in 1955 – Birth of singer/songwriter, Liam Reilly, in Dundalk, Co Louth.

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#OTD in 1951 – Birth of drummer and a founder member of the rock band Thin Lizzy, Brian Downey, in Dublin.

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#OTD in 1918 – Birth of uilleann piper, Willie Clancy.

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#OTD in 1987 – ‘Fairytale of New York’ by the Pogues and Kirsty McColl reaches no. 2 in the UK charts.

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#OTD in 1971 – RTÉ bans several patriotic ballads including Dublin In The Green and The Patriot Game.

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#OTD in 1981 – The Fureys reach no. 14 in the UK charts with When You Were Sweet Sixteen.

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