"Galway Joe" Dolan facts for kids

Joseph "Galway Joe" Dolan (25 May 1942 – 7 January 2008) was a talented Irish musician, songwriter, and artist. He was known as "Galway Joe" to tell him apart from another famous musician named Joe Dolan from Mullingar. Joe Dolan was born in Galway, County Galway, Ireland.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Joe Dolan started his journey as an arts student in Dublin. In the 1960s, he became part of the exciting Irish showband scene. He played guitar with popular groups like The Capitol Showband and The Swingtime Aces. These bands were very popular in Ireland at the time.

Sweeney's Men and Folk Music

Joe Dolan is best known for helping to start the very important folk group called Sweeney's Men. He formed the band in Galway in May 1966 with Andy Irvine and Johnny Moynihan. Joe even chose the band's name! Sweeney's Men brought new energy to the Irish folk music scene. They had a big surprise hit song called "Old Maid in the Garret" in 1967. It even reached the top 10 in Ireland.

A Journey to Jerusalem

Right when "Old Maid in the Garret" was a top hit, Joe Dolan decided to leave the band. He traveled to Israel during a time of conflict. He later wrote a song about his journey called "The Trip to Jerusalem." This song was recorded by the famous musician Christy Moore in 1978 on his album The Iron Behind the Velvet.

Joe Dolan explained how he wrote "The Trip to Jerusalem." He said he wrote it when he was young, around 1965. He was working on an archaeological trip in the Masada desert. He was on duty on top of a mountain, and it was very hot. He started thinking about his journey and how he got there.

Other Famous Songs

Joe Dolan wrote other popular songs too. His song "The Foxy Devil" was also recorded by Christy Moore on the same album. The famous Irish band The Dubliners covered another of Joe's songs, "Nelson's Farewell," which became a hit in Ireland. The music trio Ardvarna also released a beautiful version of his song "Mayfly Days."

Life After Professional Music

After his time with professional music, Joe Dolan chose to focus more on painting. However, he never stopped writing music. He would often share his new songs on tapes with anyone who was interested. He also continued to play music in local sessions, just for fun and with friends.

Later Years and Legacy

Joe Dolan passed away in January 2008 after battling cancer. He is remembered for his unique musical talent and his contributions to Irish folk music. His autobiography, a book about his life called Lost Miles and Broken Strings, has not yet been published.