Brendan Phelan
Encyclopedia
Brendan Phelan is an Irish songwriter from Dublin. His best-known song is probably "Dublin in My Tears", recorded by the Barleycorn
, The Fureys
, Patsy Watchorn
, the Dublin City Ramblers
, Mick Galvin, the Jolly Beggarmen and others.
Phelan was born in Dublin. His father, Michael, was a barber, and his mother, Carmel Kelly, was a tailoress. However, he was brought up in his grandmother's house in the suburb of Drimnagh
. He was educated at Ard Scoil Éanna in Crumlin
. In 1959 began one of several sojourns in Slough
, England, where his father was living. He travelled back and forth between the two cities over the following few years.
He eloped and married in Bristol
on St. Valentine's Day, 1966 and settled there and about this period started writing songs. After the outbreak of the Troubles
in Northern Ireland he joined Clann Na hÉireann, the British wing of Official Sinn Féin. He was deported under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in 1975 and settled back in Dublin. He has been active in politics there on behalf of the Workers Party
.
Several of Phelan's songs, such as "Seven Sober Nights", "The Equalizer", "Easter Lily" and "Four Sons" have been recorded by the Beer Mats. "Paddy's Walk to China" has been recorded by Tim Dennehy on A Thimbleful of Song. One of his songs, "Cavan Always Follows Me Around", sung by Jerry Crilly, won the Cavan International Song Contest. The first of his songs to be recorded was 'Paddy On The Screeve' by Na Seanchai, in 1979. Was once described by Dominic Behan as, "Potentially, the finest songwriter Ireland has ever produced".
The Barleycorn
The Barleycorn were an Irish traditional music band who also played Irish rebel music.The band, consisting of Paddy McGuigan, Liam Tiernan, Brian McCormick and John Delaney was formed in mid-1971...
, The Fureys
The Fureys
The Fureys are an Irish male folk band of four brothers - Eddie, Finbar, Paul and George, from Ballyfermot, Dublin. They have also been credited as The Fureys and Davey Arthur.The group formed in 1978 and consisted initially of four brothers....
, Patsy Watchorn
Patsy Watchorn
Patsy Watchorn is an Irish folk singer. He first came to prominence c. 1969 as the lead singer of The Quare Fellas, a Dublin-based ballad group, in 1969. They evolved into The Dublin City Ramblers in the early 1970s and with Patsy as their lead singer they had hits with songs such as "The Rare Old...
, the Dublin City Ramblers
Dublin City Ramblers
-History:The Dublin City Ramblers began life in the mid 60's as the Jolly Tinkers, but due to the existence of ballad groups with same name, they decided to change their name to the Quare Fellas. At this time the line up consisted of Patsy Watchorn, brothers Sean and Matt McGuiness and Pat Cummins...
, Mick Galvin, the Jolly Beggarmen and others.
Phelan was born in Dublin. His father, Michael, was a barber, and his mother, Carmel Kelly, was a tailoress. However, he was brought up in his grandmother's house in the suburb of Drimnagh
Drimnagh
Drimnagh is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Southside of the city between Walkinstown, Crumlin and Inchicore, bordering the Grand Canal to the north and east. Drimnagh is in postal district Dublin 12.-Early to Medieval:...
. He was educated at Ard Scoil Éanna in Crumlin
Crumlin, Dublin
Crumlin is suburb in Southside Dublin, Ireland. It is the site of Ireland's largest hospital for children.-Location:Crumlin covers the area from the River Poddle near the KCR to the Drimnagh Road, to Bunting Road, and is situated not far from the city centre, on the Southside of Dublin city....
. In 1959 began one of several sojourns in Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
, England, where his father was living. He travelled back and forth between the two cities over the following few years.
He eloped and married in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
on St. Valentine's Day, 1966 and settled there and about this period started writing songs. After the outbreak of the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
in Northern Ireland he joined Clann Na hÉireann, the British wing of Official Sinn Féin. He was deported under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in 1975 and settled back in Dublin. He has been active in politics there on behalf of the Workers Party
Workers Party of Ireland
The Workers' Party is a left-wing republican political party in Ireland. Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970 after a split within the party, adopting its current name in 1982....
.
Several of Phelan's songs, such as "Seven Sober Nights", "The Equalizer", "Easter Lily" and "Four Sons" have been recorded by the Beer Mats. "Paddy's Walk to China" has been recorded by Tim Dennehy on A Thimbleful of Song. One of his songs, "Cavan Always Follows Me Around", sung by Jerry Crilly, won the Cavan International Song Contest. The first of his songs to be recorded was 'Paddy On The Screeve' by Na Seanchai, in 1979. Was once described by Dominic Behan as, "Potentially, the finest songwriter Ireland has ever produced".