Finbar Furey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Finbar Furey
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| Background information | |
| Born | 28 September 1946 Dublin, Ireland |
| Origin | Ballyfermot, Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Folk music, Irish music, Irish folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Uilleann pipe, banjo, acoustic guitar and tin whistle |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Labels | Valley Entertainment, Dolphin Music |
| Associated acts | The Fureys, Davey Arthur, The Clancy Brothers |
Finbar Feargal Furey was born on September 28, 1946. He is a talented Irish folk musician who plays many instruments. He is most famous for the band he started with his brothers, called The Fureys. They grew up in Ballyfermot, Dublin, Ireland.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Finbar Furey was born in Ballyfermot, Dublin. His father, Ted, was also a well-known musician. Ted started teaching Finbar to play the Uilleann pipes when he was very young.
By the time Finbar was a teenager, he had won many awards. He won three All Ireland Medals and the Oireachtas. He was the only piper to win the All Ireland, the Oireachtas medal, and all four province titles in the same year. Finbar is an Irish Traveller.
A Career in Music
Popularizing the Pipes
Finbar helped make the Uilleann pipes famous around the world. He toured with his brother Eddie in the 1960s. In 1969, Finbar and Eddie started playing as backup musicians. They joined the famous Irish folk group The Clancy Brothers.
Finbar played the pipes, banjo, tin whistle, and guitar with The Clancy Brothers. He performed with them live, on television, and on their recordings. The Furey brothers left the group the next year. They continued performing as a duo. In 1972, Finbar and Eddie won "Single of the Year" from John Peel.
The Fureys Band
Later, Finbar's younger brothers, Paul and George, joined the band. This group became known as The Fureys. They had many popular songs. Some of their hits include When You Were Sweet Sixteen, Tara Hill, Green Fields of France, Red Rose Café, and The Lonesome Boatman.
The Fureys were one of the first Irish folk groups to play on the TV show Top of the Pops in Britain. This helped them become very well known.
Solo Career and Acting
In 1997, Finbar decided to start his own solo career. After almost 30 years as the lead singer of The Fureys, he wanted to try new things. He began performing his own one-man show. He also started writing and producing music.
In the early 2000s, Finbar also began acting. He appeared in the Martin Scorsese film Gangs of New York. He also acted in Adam & Paul (2004) and Strength and Honour (2007). He was in a short film called Paris ... (2010). Finbar also appeared in the RTÉ Television series Love/Hate.
Recent Music and Achievements
In 2011, Finbar released an album called Colours. This album featured guest singers like Mary Black and Shayne Ward. It was released in North America in 2012.
In August 2013, Finbar appeared on the Irish TV show The Hit. He recorded a song called "The Last Great Love Song." This song became number one on the Irish music charts. He performed it again with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in the final. The song won the title "The Ultimate Hit."
In 2023, Finbar released another album called "Moments in Time." This album includes both his own songs and traditional tunes.
