Patrick Clancy

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Patrick Clancy (1922 - November 11, 1998) was an Irish folk singer best known as a member of the group The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.

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.[citation needed] 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 teamed up with Tommy Makem, also from Ireland. Tommy's hand had been crushed by a press while working in Dover, New Hampshire, so he decided to try acting and singing as a serious career. 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 their first album: The Rising of the Moon. The group achieved phenomenal success in America after an appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" which led to a contract with Columbia Records. They performed together for about eight years until Makem left the group to pursue a solo career in 1969. The group continued on for about six more years under various line ups, until Liam left in 1975 to pursue a solo career, eventually teaming with Tommy Makem. Then, in the early 1980s, the group reformed with Robbie O'Connell, the Clancy's nephew. Pat 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] Solo Discography/Guest appearances

  • 1959 - Folk Festival at Newport, Volume 1 - Vanguard LP
  • 1961 - Folk Music of the Newport Folk Festival: 1959-1960, Volume 1 - Folkways LP/CD
  • 1984 – Mick Moloney: Uncommon Bonds – Green Linnet LP/CD
  • 2000 – Cherish the Ladies: The Girls Won’t Leave the Boys Alone – Windham Hill CD
  • Other appearances listed in Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem articles

[edit] External links