Sweeney's Men
Encyclopedia
Sweeney's Men was an Irish
traditional band. They emerged from the late 1960s Irish roots revival
, along with groups such as The Dubliners
and the Clancy Brothers. The founding line-up in May 1966 was 'Galway Joe' Dolan
, Johnny Moynihan
and Andy Irvine
.
The band experienced brief popularity, with their first and second singles hitting the top ten in the Irish charts. In June 1967, Dolan decided to travel to Israel to fight in the Six Day war and was replaced by Terry Woods
. At the time, they played the tin whistle
, concertina
, harmonica
, guitar
, mandolin
, banjo
and bouzouki
. This line up recorded their first full-length album, "Sweeney's Men" in 1968. Andy Irvine left the band in May 1968, to travel Eastern Europe
. He was replaced by Henry McCullough
, who had been repatriated to Ireland while on an Eire Apparent
tour, due to visa problems. McCullough played electric guitar, and his tenure saw the band explore more progressive, psychedelic territory. McCullough left in July 1968 to join Joe Cocker
's Grease Band, and was briefly replaced by Al O'Donnell. It was a duo of Woods and Moynihan who recorded the band's second, and final, album "The Tracks Of Sweeney, released in 1969. Shortly after this release, the band broke up, on 22 November 1969. A reunion almost occurred in 1970 or 71, with Ashley Hutchings
joining on guitar, but this never happened.
The band did not stick to Irish songs exclusively. Both Irvine and Woods were big fans of American music, and the band's repertoire included American songs like "Tom Dooley" alongside traditional songs like "Willy O'Winsbury" from the Scottish tradition, as well as their own compositions, such as Moynihan's "Standing on the Shore".
While they were together for just a few years, their influence was considerable, with many members going on to greater success in the Irish and folk music worlds. The band itself showed a progression away from the then-popular "ballad bands" like The Clancy Brothers
and The Dubliners
, towards a more instrumental-focused sound, later to be popularized in groups like Planxty
. The most famous innovation of Sweeney's Men is probably Moynihan's introduction of the bouzouki, a Greek
instrument, into Irish music. The bouzouki played at the time was six-stringed, though now the irish bouzouki
with eight strings is more common in Irish music.
Following the break-up of Sweeney's Men, four of the members played in other notable bands:
Founder member 'Galway Joe' Dolan
is often confused with another famous Irish performer, Joe Dolan
- founder of the Drifters showband, from Mullingar, Westmeath (born Joseph Francis Robert Dolan, 16 October 1939, died on 26 December 2007). According to Andy Irvine's biography: "So late in 1965, myself and a Galway man called Joe Dolan set out to travel through Europe, playing on the streets of Munich and Vienna". Joe Dolan, the traditional musician, was born in Galway in 1942 and was sometimes known as ‘Galway’ Joe Dolan to distinguish him from Mullingar Joe Dolan. He died of cancer on 7 January 2008 (coincidentally, within two weeks of the "other" Joe Dolan).
Andy Irvine and Johnny Moynihan were re-united for a one-off gig as Sweeney's Men in Rostrevor, Co Down on 22 July 2007, when the band was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the local Fiddler's Green Festival; Joe Dolan was unable to participate due to illness, Paul Brady
deputising. Andy Irvine wrote "Had hoped we might 'blaque' Galway Joe Dolan into doing it but he hasn't been on a stage for about two lifetimes and that wasn't going to work. Johnny had hit on the great idea of asking Paul Brady to play with us as Paul had stood in for Dolan at a gig in Limerick in 1967 after Joe's speedy departure for Israel and the 6 Day War".
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
traditional band. They emerged from the late 1960s Irish roots revival
Roots revival
A roots revival is a trend which includes young performers popularizing the traditional musical styles of their ancestors. Often, roots revivals include an addition of newly-composed songs with socially and politically aware lyrics, as well as a general modernization of the folk sound.After an...
, along with groups such as The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
and the Clancy Brothers. The founding line-up in May 1966 was 'Galway Joe' Dolan
'Galway Joe' Dolan
Joseph "Galway Joe" Dolan was an Irish musician, song-writer and artist. Known as "Galway Joe" to distinguish him from Joe Dolan of Mullingar, he was born in Galway, County Galway, Ireland....
, Johnny Moynihan
Johnny Moynihan
John "Johnny" Moynihan , is a folk singer based in Dublin, Ireland. He is often credited as being responsible for introducing the bouzouki and the Irish bouzouki into Irish music in the mid 1960s. Known as "The Bard of Dalymount", as a young man he played in the band Sweeney's Men with Andy Irvine,...
and Andy Irvine
Andy Irvine (musician)
Andrew Kennedy 'Andy' Irvine is a folk musician, singer, and songwriter, and a founding member of the popular band Planxty. He is an accomplished player of the mandolin, bouzouki, mandola, guitar-bouzouki, harmonica and hurdy-gurdy....
.
The band experienced brief popularity, with their first and second singles hitting the top ten in the Irish charts. In June 1967, Dolan decided to travel to Israel to fight in the Six Day war and was replaced by Terry Woods
Terry Woods
Terence 'Terry' Woods , is an Irish folk musician, specialising in playing the mandolin and cittern. He is known for his membership in such folk and folk-rock groups as The Pogues, Steeleye Span, Sweeney's Men, The Bucks and, briefly, Dr. Strangely Strange. Prior to being a founder member of...
. At the time, they played the tin whistle
Tin whistle
The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and...
, concertina
Concertina
A concertina is a free-reed musical instrument, like the various accordions and the harmonica. It has a bellows and buttons typically on both ends of it. When pressed, the buttons travel in the same direction as the bellows, unlike accordion buttons which travel perpendicularly to it...
, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
and bouzouki
Bouzouki
The bouzouki , is a musical instrument with Greek origin in the lute family. A mainstay of modern Greek music, the front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound, reminiscent of a mandolin but...
. This line up recorded their first full-length album, "Sweeney's Men" in 1968. Andy Irvine left the band in May 1968, to travel Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
. He was replaced by Henry McCullough
Henry McCullough
Henry McCullough Henry McCullough Henry McCullough (born Henry Campbell Liken McCullough, 21 July 1943, Portstewart, Northern Ireland is an Irish guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, who has played guitar in such bands as Sweeney's Men, Spooky Tooth, Paul McCartney & Wings, and The Grease Band. He...
, who had been repatriated to Ireland while on an Eire Apparent
Eire Apparent
Eire Apparent was a band from Northern Ireland, noted for launching the careers of Henry McCullough and Ernie Graham, and for having Jimi Hendrix play on, and produce, their only album.-The People:...
tour, due to visa problems. McCullough played electric guitar, and his tenure saw the band explore more progressive, psychedelic territory. McCullough left in July 1968 to join Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
's Grease Band, and was briefly replaced by Al O'Donnell. It was a duo of Woods and Moynihan who recorded the band's second, and final, album "The Tracks Of Sweeney, released in 1969. Shortly after this release, the band broke up, on 22 November 1969. A reunion almost occurred in 1970 or 71, with Ashley Hutchings
Ashley Hutchings
Ashley Stephen Hutchings is an English bassist, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, band leader, writer and record producer. He was a founder member of three of the most noteworthy English folk-rock bands in the history of the genre; Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band...
joining on guitar, but this never happened.
The band did not stick to Irish songs exclusively. Both Irvine and Woods were big fans of American music, and the band's repertoire included American songs like "Tom Dooley" alongside traditional songs like "Willy O'Winsbury" from the Scottish tradition, as well as their own compositions, such as Moynihan's "Standing on the Shore".
While they were together for just a few years, their influence was considerable, with many members going on to greater success in the Irish and folk music worlds. The band itself showed a progression away from the then-popular "ballad bands" like The Clancy Brothers
The Clancy Brothers
The Clancy Brothers were an influential Irish folk music singing group, most popular in the 1960s, they were famed for their woolly Aran jumpers and are widely credited with popularizing Irish traditional music in the United States. The brothers were Patrick "Paddy" Clancy, Tom Clancy, Bobby Clancy...
and The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
, towards a more instrumental-focused sound, later to be popularized in groups like Planxty
Planxty
Planxty is an Irish folk music band formed in the 1970s, consisting initially of Christy Moore , Dónal Lunny , Andy Irvine , and Liam O'Flynn...
. The most famous innovation of Sweeney's Men is probably Moynihan's introduction of the bouzouki, a Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
instrument, into Irish music. The bouzouki played at the time was six-stringed, though now the irish bouzouki
Irish bouzouki
The Irish bouzouki is a development of the octave mandolin adapted for Irish traditional and other folk music from the late 1960s onward.-Adoption for Celtic music:...
with eight strings is more common in Irish music.
Following the break-up of Sweeney's Men, four of the members played in other notable bands:
- Andy Irvine: PlanxtyPlanxtyPlanxty is an Irish folk music band formed in the 1970s, consisting initially of Christy Moore , Dónal Lunny , Andy Irvine , and Liam O'Flynn...
, Patrick StreetPatrick StreetPatrick Street is an Irish folk group.The band was formed in Dublin in 1986 with Kevin Burke on fiddle, Jackie Daly on button accordion, Andy Irvine on bouzouki and vocals, and Arty McGlynn on guitar...
, solo career - Johnny Moynihan: PlanxtyPlanxtyPlanxty is an Irish folk music band formed in the 1970s, consisting initially of Christy Moore , Dónal Lunny , Andy Irvine , and Liam O'Flynn...
, De DannanDe DannanDe Dannan was an Irish folk music group. They were formed by Frankie Gavin , Alec Finn , Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh and Charlie Piggott as a result of sessions in Hughes's Pub in An Spidéal, County Galway, subsequently inviting Dolores Keane to join the band...
, solo career and with Anne BriggsAnne BriggsAnne Briggs is an English folk singer. Although she traveled widely in the 1960s and early 1970s, appearing at folk clubs and venues in England and Ireland, she never aspired to commercial success or to achieve widespread public acknowledgment of her music...
and Andrew McNamara - Terry Woods: Steeleye SpanSteeleye SpanSteeleye Span are an English folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles "Gaudete" and "All Around My Hat"....
, [The Woods Band], The PoguesThe PoguesThe Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before... - Henry McCulloughHenry McCulloughHenry McCullough Henry McCullough Henry McCullough (born Henry Campbell Liken McCullough, 21 July 1943, Portstewart, Northern Ireland is an Irish guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, who has played guitar in such bands as Sweeney's Men, Spooky Tooth, Paul McCartney & Wings, and The Grease Band. He...
: The Grease BandThe Grease BandThe Grease Band was a rock band that started out as Joe Cocker's backing band. They recorded two albums in the 1970s. They are probably most widely known for their performance of The Beatles song, "With a Little Help from My Friends", with Joe Cocker at the Woodstock Festival in 1969...
, WingsWings (band)Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
Founder member 'Galway Joe' Dolan
'Galway Joe' Dolan
Joseph "Galway Joe" Dolan was an Irish musician, song-writer and artist. Known as "Galway Joe" to distinguish him from Joe Dolan of Mullingar, he was born in Galway, County Galway, Ireland....
is often confused with another famous Irish performer, Joe Dolan
Joe Dolan
Joseph "Joe" Francis Robert Dolan was an Irish entertainer, recorder and singer of easy listening songs...
- founder of the Drifters showband, from Mullingar, Westmeath (born Joseph Francis Robert Dolan, 16 October 1939, died on 26 December 2007). According to Andy Irvine's biography: "So late in 1965, myself and a Galway man called Joe Dolan set out to travel through Europe, playing on the streets of Munich and Vienna". Joe Dolan, the traditional musician, was born in Galway in 1942 and was sometimes known as ‘Galway’ Joe Dolan to distinguish him from Mullingar Joe Dolan. He died of cancer on 7 January 2008 (coincidentally, within two weeks of the "other" Joe Dolan).
Andy Irvine and Johnny Moynihan were re-united for a one-off gig as Sweeney's Men in Rostrevor, Co Down on 22 July 2007, when the band was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the local Fiddler's Green Festival; Joe Dolan was unable to participate due to illness, Paul Brady
Paul Brady
Paul Joseph Brady is an Irish singer-songwriter, whose work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age...
deputising. Andy Irvine wrote "Had hoped we might 'blaque' Galway Joe Dolan into doing it but he hasn't been on a stage for about two lifetimes and that wasn't going to work. Johnny had hit on the great idea of asking Paul Brady to play with us as Paul had stood in for Dolan at a gig in Limerick in 1967 after Joe's speedy departure for Israel and the 6 Day War".
Original Releases
- Old Maid in the Garrett / The Derby Ram, 1967; 7" single (Pye 7N 17312)
- Waxie's Dargle / Old Woman In Cotton, 1968; 7" single (Pye 7N 17459)
- Compilation "Mini Monster" EP, featuring all four songs from first two singles (Pye EP PMM.608)
- Sullivan's John / Rattlin' Roarin' Willy, 1969; 7" single (Transatlantic TRASP 19)
- Sweeney's Men, 1968; LP (Transatlantic TRA170)
- The Tracks Of Sweeney, 1969; LP (Transatlantic TRA 200)
Compilations
- Time Was Never Here, 1992; CD with both albums but missing "The Exile's Jig" and "Dicey Riley" (Demon TDEMCD11)
- Sweeneys Men / The Tracks Of Sweeney,1996; CD with both albums plus "Old Woman in Cotton" (Essential ESMCD 435)
- The Legend Of Sweeney's Men, 2004; Double-CD with all studio recordings plus several extras (Castle Music, CMDD932).
External links
- Andy Irvine on Sweeney's Men http://www.andyirvine.com/bio/bio-4.html
- Joe Dolan obituary http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/mar/26/obituaries.mainsection1 [accessed 12 August 2008].
- Irish Rock website http://www.irishrock.org/irodb/bands/sweeneysmen.html