| Robbie O'Connell | |
|---|---|
| Born | County Waterford, Ireland |
| Genres | Irish Folk, Contemporary |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals |
| Years active | 1970s – present |
| Website | www.robbieoconnell.com |
Robbie O'Connell is an Irish singer and songwriter.
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Robbie was born in Waterford and grew up in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, where his parents had a small hotel. He spent a year touring folk clubs in England before enrolling at University College Dublin where he studied Literature and Philosophy. Being a newphew of the Clancy Brothers, he began touring with them in 1977, taking the place of Liam Clancy who was working on his farm. He would play guitar and occasionally mandolin. In 1979 he moved to Franklin, Massachusetts.[1]
Beginning in 1977 they toured three months a year in March, August and November, all in the United States. Robbie became a songwriter, composing several songs the group sang regularly, such as "Bobby's Britches," "Ferrybank Piper," and "You're Not Irish." He also brought in songs from others such as "Dear Boss," "Sister Josephine," "There Were Roses," "John O'Dreams," and possibly his signature song "Killkelly." Reviews cited Robbie as a fresh addition to the group and with his original compositions, the future of the group.
With the release, in 1982, of his first solo album, Close to the Bone, Robbie emerged as an artist of major stature. He began touring with Mick Moloney and Jimmy Keane, and also with Eileen Ivers and Seamus Egan in the Green Fields of America.[1]
Robbie continued to play part-time with the Clancy brothers for nineteen years. In 1992 he performed at Carnegie Hall with them and also performed on the telecast of a live tribute to Bob Dylan at Madison Square Garden.[1]
In 1996 Liam Clancy and Robbie departed the Clancy Brothers and formed their own duo, called simply Liam Clancy and Robbie O'Connell. Before splitting, the Clancy brothers and Robbie O'Connell gave a Farewell Tour of both Ireland and America in February and March 1996. The Irish tour in February was filmed near the Clancys' hometown, televised and later released to video and DVD as The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell: Farewell to Ireland.
Liam Clancy and Robbie O'Connell toured for a while as a duo, but very soon added Liam's son Donal Clancy to the mix, forming the trio Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy. The trio released two albums, a self-titled debut album in 1997 and an album of sea songs in 1998, The Wild and Wasteful Ocean. Robbie O'Connell regards the self-titled Clancy, O'Connell and Clancy album as his most favorite work. In 1999, with Liam in Ireland, Robbie in Massachusetts and Donal in New York, the trio decided to call it quits as a full time group. They did say they would occasionally regroup for concerts, which they have, seldom as it is. Robbie O'Connell performs as a solo musician now.
In 2000, the Milwaukee Irish Fest had its 20th anniversary and in celebration, they had the entire performing Clancy Family sing together on one stage. This once-in-a-lifetime lineup included Robbie O'Connell, Donal, Liam, Bobby, Finbarr, Aoife Clancy and Eddie Dillon.
Clean Cabbage in the Bucket (And Other Tales From The Irish Music Trenches), co-written with Seamus Kennedy, Dennis O'Rourke, Harry O'Donoghue and Frank Emerson.
The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem & Robbie O'Connell: The Men Behind the Sweaters, by Conor Murray