Patsy Watchorn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patsy Watchorn
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Watchorn with The Dubliners, c. 2005
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| Background information | |
| Born | 16 October 1944 Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Irish folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, banjo, bodhrán, spoons |
| Years active | 1969–2014 |
| Associated acts | Dublin City Ramblers (1969–1995) The Dubliners (2005–2012) The Dublin Legends (2013–2014) |
Patsy Watchorn, born on October 16, 1944, is a famous Irish folk singer. He is well-known for being a member of two popular bands: the Dublin City Ramblers and later The Dubliners.
Contents
Patsy Watchorn's Music Journey
Starting with The Quare Fellas
Patsy Watchorn began his music career around 1969. He was the lead singer for a group called The Quare Fellas. This band was based in Dublin and focused on traditional ballad songs.
Joining the Dublin City Ramblers
In the early 1970s, The Quare Fellas changed their name to the Dublin City Ramblers. Patsy continued as their lead singer. With this band, he sang many popular songs. Some of their big hits included "The Rare Ould Times" and "The Ferryman." Both of these famous songs were written by Pete St. John.
Patsy also helped create a special song for the Irish Football Team. He wrote and sang their anthem, "We are the Boys in Green." This song was used for their big games in the European Championship in Germany and the World Cup in 1990 in Italy. The words in the song changed a little bit between 1988 and 1990.
Solo Career and The Dubliners
In 1995, Patsy Watchorn left the Dublin City Ramblers. He then started making his own music and released several solo albums. In 2005, he joined the legendary band The Dubliners. He took the place of Paddy Reilly in the group.
With The Dubliners, Patsy appeared on their Tour Sampler music collection in 2005. He was also featured on their double album Live at Vicar Street in 2006. Patsy is known for playing the banjo, bodhrán (an Irish drum), and even spoons as musical instruments. He has said that Luke Kelly, a former lead singer of The Dubliners, is his favorite singer. Patsy sang with The Dubliners and was loved by fans in Ireland, the UK, Europe, Australia, and the USA.
The Dublin Legends and Retirement
The Dubliners decided to stop touring in 2012 after their 50th Anniversary Tour. However, Patsy Watchorn wanted to keep performing. He teamed up with other former Dubliners members, Seán Cannon and Eamonn Campbell, and banjo player Gerry O'Connor. They formed a new group called "The Dublin Legends" and continued to tour.
On April 28, 2014, Patsy Watchorn shared a message on his website. He said he was taking a break from music for a while. He explained that he would not be touring with "The Dublin Legends" for the rest of 2014. Later, he shared that this break was due to health reasons. Doctors advised him that touring could make his health worse.
Patsy Watchorn's unique and strong singing voice made him a very important part of the Irish folk music scene. When he worked on his solo projects in the mid and late 1990s, he often had other musicians play with him. He used the stage name "Patsy Watchorn, agus a Cháirde," which means "and his Friends" in the Irish language.
Patsy Watchorn's Albums
- Pub with No Beer (1996)
- Sonia's Song (1996)
- The Craic and Porter Too (1998)
- Raised on Songs and Stories (2000)
- The Rare Old Times: The Very Best of Patsy Watchorn (2002)
- Hearts on Fire (2003)
- Irish Rebel Heroes (2004)
- Now (2011)
