Patrick Clancy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Patrick Clancy (7 March 1922 – 11 November 1998), often called Pat Clancy or Paddy Clancy, was a member of the Irish folksinging group The Clancy Brothers, and the eldest of the brothers. Like the other members he was primarily a vocalist, but on occasion would play harmonica as well. He was born in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, one of nine children.
During World War II he served as a flight engineer in the Royal Air Force in Asia; he also reportedly had been a member of the Irish Republican Army.
Following the War, Clancy travelled to Venezuela to search for emeralds, and in 1947 had made it to Canada with his brother Tom. Together they moved to Cleveland, Ohio to stay with relatives. They attempted to move to California, but their car broke down, and they decided on New York City instead, and both began acting.
In 1955 their younger brother Liam Clancy immigrated to New York, where he had met Tommy Makem. The two began singing together and were soon joined by Pat and Tom. Around the same time, Pat founded Tradition Records, and together they released the first album by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem: The Rising of the Moon. The group achieved phenomenal success in America, and they performed together for decades. After splitting and reforming several times, Makem left the group for good, but Pat continued performing with the Clancy Brothers until his death.
Clancy returned to live in Carrick-on-Suir in 1964 and bought a dairy farm. He died of cancer on November 11, 1998 at his home at age 76. He was buried, wearing his trademark white cap, in the tiny village of Faugheen.
He was survived by his widow, Mary Clancy, as well as four siblings and five children.
[edit] External links
- [1] Obituaries of Patrick Clancy from New York Times, Irish Times and the Associated Press.
