Tom Clancy (singer) facts for kids

Thomas Joseph Clancy (born October 29, 1924 – died November 7, 1990) was a famous singer and actor from Ireland. He was a key member of the well-known Irish folk music group, The Clancy Brothers. Tom was known for having a very strong voice. Before becoming a full-time singer, he was an actor who appeared in many plays, even with the famous actor Orson Welles. He also acted on television and in movies.

Quick facts for kids Thomas "Tom" Clancy
Tom Clancy in 1956.
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Joseph Clancy
Also known as	Tommy Clancy Thomas J. Clancy
Born	(1924-10-29)29 October 1924
Origin	Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland
Died	7 November 1990(1990-11-07) (aged 66) Cork City, County Cork, Ireland
Genres	Folk, traditional Irish
Occupation(s)	Singer, actor
Years active	1947–1990
Associated acts	The Clancy Brothers

Growing Up

Tom Clancy was one of eleven children. He was born in Carrick-on-Suir, a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. After training to be a baker, Tom joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1943. This was during World War II. In the RAF, Tom worked as a radio operator on planes that flew over Germany.

After the war ended, Tom left the RAF. He then traveled with a British acting group. In 1947, he and his older brother, Paddy Clancy, moved to Canada. They later moved to New York. Tom met his first wife there, and his oldest daughter was born in 1950.

The family then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to live with relatives. Tom worked as an actor at the Cleveland Playhouse for a while. He then went back to Ireland for a short time. While in Ireland, Tom worked with an acting company called Shakespeareana Internationale. Later, Paddy sent him money, and Tom returned to the United States. The brothers planned to move to California, but their car broke down. So, they decided to try New York City instead. They both found work as actors there, performing in plays both on and off Broadway.

The Clancy Brothers Band

In 1956, Tom and Paddy's younger brother, Liam Clancy, joined them. Liam came with his friend, Tommy Makem. Liam and Tommy started singing together. In 1959, the older Clancy brothers joined them. This is how the famous group, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, was formed.

The group sang together for many years. Liam left the group in 1976. Tommy Makem had left earlier, in 1969. For a short time, Bobby Clancy and later Louis Killen joined the band.

Tom Clancy kept singing with The Clancy Brothers until 1976, when the group stopped performing. However, the group reformed in 1977 with some new members. Tom performed with his brothers Paddy and Bobby, and their nephew, Robbie O'Connell. He continued singing with them until he passed away. Tom also performed with Paddy, Liam, and Tommy Makem during their reunion tour from 1984 to 1985.

Tom sang the main parts in many of the group's popular songs. Some of these included "The Rising of the Moon", "The Moonshiner", "Haul Away Joe", "Red Haired Mary", "The Barnyards of Delgaty", "Carrickfergus", "I Once Loved a Lass", and "The Bold Fenian Men".

Acting Later On

Even while he was a singer, Tom Clancy continued to act. He appeared in movies like The Killer Elite (1975) and Swashbuckler (1976). He also had roles in TV shows such as Little House on the Prairie, Starsky and Hutch, and The Incredible Hulk. He also acted in several TV movies.

After not being on Broadway for fifteen years, Tom returned in May 1974. He starred in the play A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O'Neill. Critics praised his acting, saying he was a "wily, sly rogue with a whimsical humour." The play was very successful and won three Tony Awards.

His Final Years

Tom Clancy passed away from stomach cancer in 1990. He was 66 years old. He died at Mercy Hospital in Cork City, County Cork, Ireland.

He was survived by his wife, Joan, and their three daughters: Rayleen, Blawneen, and Rosie. Rosie was only two years old when he died. Tom also had two children, Eileen and Thomas, from an earlier relationship with Yvonne Marcus in Cleveland, Ohio. He also had another daughter, Cait, with his second wife, Laine, in the mid-1950s.

Tom's last recording was made in 1988. He recorded it with Robbie O'Connell, Bobby Clancy, and Paddy Clancy at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire. After Tom's death, his brother Liam returned to The Clancy Brothers to take his place.

Film and TV Roles

Guest Recordings

• 1956: The Countess Cathleen – Tradition LP
• 1980: Seamus Kennedy: Raise Your Weary Hearts – Gransha LP