Johnny Moynihan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johnny Moynihan
Moynihan with a pre-war Gibson mandolin
Background information
Birth name	John Moynihan
Born	(1946-10-29) 29 October 1946 (age 78)
Origin	Phibsboro, Dublin, Ireland
Genres	Folk, traditional Irish
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer
Instruments	Vocals, fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki, tin whistle and button accordion
Years active	1960s–present
Associated acts	Sweeney's Men Planxty Silly Sisters Tony Hall De Dannan Fleadh Cowboys Moonshine

Johnny Moynihan, born on October 29, 1946, in Phibsboro, Dublin, Ireland, is a famous Irish folk singer. He is often recognized for introducing the bouzouki, a stringed instrument, into Irish music during the mid-1960s.

Johnny Moynihan's Music Journey

Starting with Sweeney's Men

Johnny Moynihan is sometimes called "The Bard of Dalymount." He helped start a band called Sweeney's Men with Andy Irvine and 'Galway Joe' Dolan. Later, Terry Woods joined the band. Sweeney's Men changed Irish music and are known for helping to start the folk music revival in Ireland in the late 1960s.

A big change Sweeney's Men brought was Moynihan's use of the bouzouki. This instrument originally came from Greece. Johnny Moynihan used a different way of tuning it for Irish music.

In a book called The Humours of Planxty, it says that Johnny Moynihan bought his first bouzouki from a friend. At first, the other members of Sweeney's Men were not sure about this new instrument. But then, Johnny and Andy Irvine worked together to create a beautiful sound with the bouzouki and mandolin while practicing a song called Rattlin' Roarin' Willy. Later, Moynihan traded this Greek bouzouki for an old Gibson mandolin. He then bought a different type of bouzouki in London.

Sweeney's Men made two albums: Sweeney's Men and The Tracks of Sweeney. The second album was made after Andy Irvine had left to travel.

Playing with Other Bands

In 1973, Johnny Moynihan briefly joined the band Planxty for their album Cold Blow and the Rainy Night. After Planxty, in 1976, Moynihan took Andy Irvine's place in the band De Dannan. You can hear him on their second album, Selected Jigs, Reels & Songs, which came out in 1977.

Also in 1976, he recorded music with Maddy Prior & June Tabor, who were known as the Silly Sisters. He also recorded with Tony Hall.

For a while, he was the leader of the Fleadh Cowboys, a popular band in Dublin during the 1980s.

Solo Shows and Moonshine

Around 2006, Johnny Moynihan often played old-time Appalachian music with a group in east-Clare. They called themselves 'Frankie, Johnny and Sweetheart'. The other members were Lena Ullmann from Sweden, who played the clawhammer banjo, and Frank Hall from America, who played the fiddle. In 2007, they changed their name to Moonshine.

Band Reunions

Johnny Moynihan and Andy Irvine played together again for a special concert in Galway in 2001. Many people thought they might not play together again after that.

However, they did reunite once more. This time, they performed as Sweeney's Men for a concert in Rostrevor, County Down, on July 22, 2007. Paul Brady filled in for Joe Dolan, who was not well. Another Sweeney's Men reunion happened on June 16 and 17, 2012. Moynihan, Irvine, and Woods played together as part of Andy Irvine's 70th birthday concerts at Vicar Street in Dublin. Their performances went so well that they started playing regularly in Ireland in late 2012 and again in 2013.

You can find more information about Johnny Moynihan and his time with Sweeney's Men and Planxty in Leagues O'Toole's book, The Humours of Planxty.

Johnny Moynihan's Albums

With Sweeney's Men

• Sweeney's Men (1968)
• The Tracks of Sweeney (1969)
• Andy Irvine/70th Birthday Concert at Vicar St 2012 (2014)

With Anne Briggs

• Anne Briggs (1971)

With Planxty

• Cold Blow and the Rainy Night (1974)

With Maddy Prior & June Tabor

• Silly Sisters (1976)

With Tony Hall

• Fieldvole Music (1976)

With De Danann

• Selected Jigs, Reels & Songs (1977)

With Fleadh Cowboys

• High Ace to Heaven (1988)
• Time of Your Life (1997)

With Moonshine

• First Run (2007)

Film and Video

• Andy Irvine 70th Birthday Concert at Vicar St 2012 (2014), DVD