Robbie O'Connell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robbie O'Connell
Robbie O'Connell at the Dublin Irish Fest (Ohio, 2006)
Background information
Birth name	Robert O'Connell
Born	1950 (age 74–75) County Waterford, Ireland
Genres	Irish Folk, Contemporary
Occupation(s)	Gaelic player
Instruments	Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals
Years active	1970s – present
Associated acts	The Clancy Brothers Moloney, O'Connell & Keane Green Fields of America Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy The Clancy Legacy

Robbie O'Connell (born December 28, 1950) is a talented Irish singer and songwriter. He performs his music by himself and with groups like The Green Fields of America. Robbie also plays with his cousin Dónal Clancy, Dan Milner, and fiddler Rose Clancy.

He is the nephew of The Clancy Brothers, a very famous Irish folk group. Robbie toured and recorded music with them for many years. For over two decades, he has led special cultural trips to Ireland. These trips focus on Irish music and traditions. Robbie is married and has four grown children. He now lives part of the time in Bristol, Rhode Island, and part of the time in Waterford, Ireland.

Robbie's Early Life and Music Beginnings

Robbie O'Connell was born in 1950 in Waterford, Ireland. His first years were spent in Waterford City. When he was seven, his family moved to Carrick-on-Suir. This was his mother's hometown. There, his family opened a guesthouse called Mount Richard.

In the mid-1950s, Robbie's uncle Bobby came back from New York. He suggested turning the guesthouse basement into a music spot. They could hold folk music and ballad sessions there. Soon, Mount Richard became a popular place for music. Famous musicians like Seamus Ennis and Jean Ritchie performed there. In this musical home, Robbie and his sister Alice started playing guitar and singing. They formed a group called The Rotary Folk. This group won the Kilkenny Beer Festival in the late 1960s.

While studying at University College Dublin, Robbie spent summers in the United States. He performed Irish music there. In 1972, he met singer Roxanne Vigeant. They performed together as "Robbie & Roxanne." Later, they formed "The Munster Cloak" with a bassist. Robbie and Roxanne got married in 1974. They settled in Acton, Massachusetts. In 1976, they moved back to Ireland after his mother passed away. Robbie then formed The Bread & Beer Band with friends. Two of his four children were born during this time. Music sessions continued at the family's Tinvane Hotel. Many musicians, including Dermot Morgan, often performed there.

Joining The Clancy Brothers

Robbie O'Connell is the nephew of The Clancy Brothers. In 1977, he began touring with Paddy, Tom, and Bobby Clancy. He took the place of Liam Clancy, who was performing with Tommy Makem. Robbie sang, played guitar, and sometimes played the mandolin. In 1979, Robbie and his family moved to Franklin, Massachusetts.

From 1977 onwards, The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell toured the United States. They usually toured for three months each year. Robbie had been writing songs since he was a teenager. He wrote several songs that the group often sang. Some of these were "Bobby's Britches" and "You're Not Irish." He also sang songs written by other artists. People who reviewed their shows said Robbie was a great new addition. They also said his original songs were important for the group's future.

In 1982, Robbie released his first solo album, Close to the Bone. This album showed he was a major artist on his own. He started touring with Mick Moloney and Jimmy Keane. He also performed with Eileen Ivers and Séamus Egan in the group Green Fields of America. The group Moloney, O'Connell & Keane recorded two albums. Both albums were highly praised. The first was There Were Roses in 1985. The second was Kilkelly in 1987.

Robbie continued to perform part-time with the Clancy Brothers for 19 years. In 1992, he performed with them at Carnegie Hall. He also sang and played guitar at a live tribute to Bob Dylan. This event was held at Madison Square Garden and was shown on TV.

In 1996, Liam Clancy and Robbie O'Connell left The Clancy Brothers. They formed their own duo called Liam Clancy and Robbie O'Connell. Before they split, The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell had a farewell tour. They toured both Ireland and America in early 1996. The Irish part of the tour was filmed. It was later released as a video and DVD called The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell: Farewell to Ireland.

Robbie's Career After The Clancy Brothers

Liam Clancy and Robbie O'Connell toured as a duo for a while. Soon, Liam's son Dónal Clancy joined them. They formed a trio called Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy. This trio released two albums. Their first album came out in 1997. Their second album, The Wild and Wasteful Ocean, featured sea songs in 1998. Robbie considers their self-titled album, Clancy, O'Connell and Clancy, one of his favorite works. In 1999, the trio decided to stop being a full-time group. This was because Liam was in Ireland, Robbie in Massachusetts, and Dónal in New York. They still got together for concerts sometimes. However, as Liam's health declined, these became less frequent.

In 2000, the Milwaukee Irish Fest celebrated its 20th anniversary. For this special event, the entire Clancy family performed together on stage. This unique lineup included Robbie O'Connell, Dónal, Liam, Bobby, Finbarr, and Aoife Clancy. Their friend Eddie Dillon also joined them. In 2006, Robbie began working with his cousins Aoife and Dónal Clancy. They formed a group called The Clancy Legacy. Their first CD together was released in 2010.

Besides his solo career, Robbie also performs with Mick Moloney and The Green Fields of America. He also plays with The Clancy Legacy. Sometimes he performs with Dan Milner, Ed Miller, and Rose Clancy.

Since 1995, Robbie O'Connell has hosted "Heart of Ireland" cultural tours. He takes small groups of people to Ireland. These tours focus on the music and traditions of different areas. In 2003, Brian O'Donovan from WGBH radio asked Robbie to help with a 'GBH Learning Tour. Both types of tours still happen every year.

Robbie's Music Albums

Here are some of the albums Robbie O'Connell has been a part of:

Solo Albums

• Close To The Bone (1982)
• The Love Of The Land (1989)
• Never Learned to Dance (1993)
• Humorous Songs – Live (1998)
• Recollections (2002)

With The Clancy Brothers

• Wild & Wasteful Ocean (1998)
• Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy (1997)
• The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O’Connell Live
• Tunes 'n' Tales of Ireland
• Older But No Wiser

As The Clancy Legacy

• The Clancy Legacy

As Aengus

• All on a Christmas Morning (1998)

As Moloney, O'Connell & Keane

• There Were Roses (1985)
• Kilkelly (1987)

As Green Fields of America

• The Green Fields of America: Live in Concert (1998)
• The Green Fields of America (2009)

Compilation Albums (albums with songs from many artists)

• Absolutely Irish
• A Christmas Celtic Sojourn - Live
• Irish Songs from Old New England
• The Rights of Man
• Sing Out America
• The Celts Rise Again
• Bringing It All Back Home
• Comfort & Joy: A Celtic Christmas Sojourn
• Dear Jean: Artists Celebrate Jean Ritchie
• Mystic Seaport 24th Annual Sea Music Festival

Videos

• The Clancy Brothers & Robbie O'Connell – Farewell To Ireland

Writings

Robbie O'Connell co-wrote a book called Clean Cabbage in the Bucket (And Other Tales From The Irish Music Trenches). He wrote it with Seamus Kennedy, Dennis O'Rourke, Harry O'Donoghue, and Frank Emerson.