The Dubliners facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Dubliners
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Ciarán Bourke, Luke Kelly, John Sheahan
Barney McKenna, Ronnie Drew |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Irish folk |
| Years active | 1962–2012 (Reunion: 2020) |
| Labels | Columbia, Epic, Legacy, Major Minor, EMI, Transatlantic, Polydor, Stiff, CHYME, Lunar, Harmac, Baycourt |
| Associated acts | The Dublin Legends, The Pogues, The New Triangle, The Cannons |
| Members | Paul Watchorn Shay Kavanagh John Sheahan Seán Cannon Gerry O'Connor |
| Past members | Ciarán Bourke Ronnie Drew Luke Kelly Barney McKenna Bob Lynch Jim McCann Eamonn Campbell Paddy Reilly Patsy Watchorn |
The Dubliners were a famous Irish folk band. They started in Dublin, Ireland, in 1962. At first, they were called "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group" after one of their founding members. Later, they changed their name to The Dubliners.
Over their 50-year career, many musicians joined and left the band. But the main singers, Luke Kelly and Ronnie Drew, were key to their success. The band became famous around the world. They were known for their lively Irish folk songs, old street ballads, and instrumental tunes.
Contents
The Dubliners: Irish Music Legends
How They Started
In the early 1960s, The Dubliners played regularly in folk music places in Dublin and London. A record label called Major Minor signed them in 1965. This happened with help from Dominic Behan, who also wrote songs for them. One famous song he wrote was "McAlpine's Fusiliers". It was made to show off Ronnie Drew's unique, gravelly voice.
Their Rise to Fame
The band's music was played a lot on Radio Caroline. This helped them become even more popular. In 1967, they appeared on a famous TV show called Top of the Pops. They had hit songs like "Seven Drunken Nights" and "The Black Velvet Band". "Seven Drunken Nights" sold over 250,000 copies in the UK!
Sometimes, The Dubliners sang songs that talked about sensitive topics. Because of this, Ireland's national broadcaster, RTÉ, did not play their music for a few years (1967 to 1971). But during this time, the band became very popular in Europe. They even appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in the United States.
Global Success and Challenges
The band stayed popular throughout the 1970s. In 1987, they worked with another famous band, The Pogues. This helped The Dubliners get into the UK Singles Chart two more times.
The Dubliners played a big part in making Irish folk music popular in Europe. While they weren't as famous as The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in the US, they still had a huge impact.
A Lasting Legacy
Many Irish bands, like The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys, and Flogging Molly, were influenced by The Dubliners. In Ireland, many people think that Ronnie Drew and Luke Kelly's versions of Irish ballads are the best.
The Dubliners were one of the most important Irish music groups of the 20th century. In 2012, they celebrated 50 years together. This made them Ireland's longest-lasting musical act. Also in 2012, they received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
The Dubliners announced they would stop performing in late 2012. This was after one of their original members, Barney McKenna, passed away. However, the remaining members continued to tour under a new name: "The Dublin Legends". As of 2020, John Sheahan is the only member from the original group still performing with The Dublin Legends.
Images for kids
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O'Donoghue's Pub on Merrion Row, Dublin, where the group played regularly in the early 1960s.
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The Dubliners in 2005. L-R: Eamonn Campbell, John Sheahan, Barney McKenna, Seán Cannon, Patsy Watchorn.
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A wall in O'Donoghue's dedicated to The Dubliners
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The Dubliners performing in Luxembourg, 11 October 2008
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The Dubliners with president Higgins of Ireland in 2012. L-R: Gerry O'Connor, Eamonn Campbell, Sean Cannon, John Sheahan, President Michael Higgins and Paddy Reilly
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The Dubliners performing at the 2010 International Folk Festival in Bad Rappenau, Germany. Pictured left to right are Barney McKenna, John Sheahan, Seán Cannon, Patsy Watchorn, and Eamonn Campbell.
See also
In Spanish: The Dubliners para niños
