Derek Warfield
Encyclopedia
Derek Warfield is an Irish
singer, songwriter, historian
, and a founding member of the musical group Wolfe Tones
.
, Dublin in 1943 and he was educated at Synge Street CBS
. He was apprenticed as a tailor until becoming a folk musician. He lives in Kilcock
, Co. Kildare. In 2006, Warfield's wife Nuala died, followed by the death of his eldest daughter in 2007.
A solo album, Legacy was released in 1995 and was followed with Liberte’ ‘98, Sons of Erin, Take Me Home To Mayo and Clear The Way. Warfield also has a video Legacy and two books, The Songs and Ballads of 1798 and The Irish Songster of the American Civil War.
Warfield has performed his music and songs at American Civil War events and commemorations at such sites as Gettysburg, Sharpsburg and Harrisburg with his band, The Sons of Erin. Warfield’s 2002 release, Clear the Way is the second in his Irish Songs in the Civil War series.
The ballad “Take Me Home To Mayo”, written by Belfastman Seamus Robinson as a tribute to Michael Gaughan, was recorded as a duet with Irish American Andy Cooney
and is the title track of another 2002 Warfield release.
In March 2006, Warfield released his 9th solo album, a 36 song double CD of Irish songs.
Derek now tours with his new band, Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones.
politician, Roy Beggs, Jr., a radio channel dedicated to the music of Derek Warfield was removed from the in-flight entertainment of Aer Lingus
.
Beggs complained of the "Blatant promotion of militant, armed republicanism
" by the playing of this music, saying it was the same as "the speeches of Osama bin Laden
being played on a trans-Atlantic Arabian airline."
Aer Lingus removed the material from their flights stating: "It is something that should not have been on board and we removed it immediately we became aware of it."
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
singer, songwriter, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, and a founding member of the musical group Wolfe Tones
Wolfe Tones
The Wolfe Tones are an Irish rebel music band who incorporate elements of Irish traditional music in their songs. They are named after the Irish rebel and patriot Theobald Wolfe Tone, one of the leaders of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, with the double entendre that a wolf tone is a spurious sound...
.
Personal life
Warfield was born the eldest of four in InchicoreInchicore
-Location and access:Located five kilometres due west of the city centre, Inchicore lies south of the River Liffey, west of Kilmainham, north of Drimnagh and east of Ballyfermot. The majority of Inchicore is in the Dublin 8 postal district...
, Dublin in 1943 and he was educated at Synge Street CBS
Synge Street CBS
Synge Street CBS is a Christian Brothers School in Dublin 8, Ireland. It was founded in 1864.-Primary school:The primary section caters for boys from seven to twelve years. It is called Sancta Maria CBS. It opened in 1954.-Secondary school:...
. He was apprenticed as a tailor until becoming a folk musician. He lives in Kilcock
Kilcock
Kilcock or Killcock is a town and townland in the north of County Kildare, Ireland, on the border with County Meath. Kilcock is a dormitory town for many of those who work in Dublin...
, Co. Kildare. In 2006, Warfield's wife Nuala died, followed by the death of his eldest daughter in 2007.
Career
Derek Warfield is a singer, songwriter, mandolin player and a founding member of the Wolfe Tones, performing with the band for over 37 years. He has written and recorded over 60 songs and ballads. The Foggy Dew was the first of 16 albums recorded by the Wolfe Tones (1964) while the popular Sing Out For Ireland (1987) was the last studio album that all four members were present on.A solo album, Legacy was released in 1995 and was followed with Liberte’ ‘98, Sons of Erin, Take Me Home To Mayo and Clear The Way. Warfield also has a video Legacy and two books, The Songs and Ballads of 1798 and The Irish Songster of the American Civil War.
Warfield has performed his music and songs at American Civil War events and commemorations at such sites as Gettysburg, Sharpsburg and Harrisburg with his band, The Sons of Erin. Warfield’s 2002 release, Clear the Way is the second in his Irish Songs in the Civil War series.
The ballad “Take Me Home To Mayo”, written by Belfastman Seamus Robinson as a tribute to Michael Gaughan, was recorded as a duet with Irish American Andy Cooney
Andy Cooney
Andrew Cooney was an Irish Republican.From Nenagh, County Tipperary, Cooney began studying medicine at University College Dublin just as the Irish War of Independence was getting underway, and he played for a brief spell with the College's hurling club...
and is the title track of another 2002 Warfield release.
In March 2006, Warfield released his 9th solo album, a 36 song double CD of Irish songs.
Derek now tours with his new band, Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones.
Books written
A biography of Robert Emmett in two volumes, although not written by Derek Warfield, has been published by him, and a collaboration with Raymond Daly of Tullamore has resulted in the publishing of a book of lyrics and histories of Irish songs called Celtic and Ireland in Song and Story.Controversy
In 2003 after a complaint from an Ulster UnionistUlster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
politician, Roy Beggs, Jr., a radio channel dedicated to the music of Derek Warfield was removed from the in-flight entertainment of Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus Group Plc is the flag carrier of Ireland. It operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft serving Europe and North America. It is Ireland's oldest extant airline, and its second largest after low-cost rival Ryanair...
.
Beggs complained of the "Blatant promotion of militant, armed republicanism
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
" by the playing of this music, saying it was the same as "the speeches of Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
being played on a trans-Atlantic Arabian airline."
Aer Lingus removed the material from their flights stating: "It is something that should not have been on board and we removed it immediately we became aware of it."