Robbie O'Connell

Robbie O'Connell

Robbie O'Connell at the Dublin Irish Fest (Ohio, 2006)
Background information
Birth name Robert O'Connell
Born 1951
County Waterford, Ireland
Genres Irish Folk, Contemporary
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals
Years active 1970s – present
Associated acts The Clancy Brothers
Moloney, O'Connell & Keane
Green Fields of America
Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy
The Clancy Legacy
Website www.robbieoconnell.com

Robbie O'Connell (b. 1951) is an Irish singer and songwriter most famous as a part of The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell, as well as for his solo work.

Early life

Robbie O'Connell was born in 1951 in Waterford, County 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.

He met and, a few years later, married Roxanne O'Connell (née Vigeant), from Marlboro Massachusetts, in 1974. From 1972 to 1976, they performed as a duo, and in the group The Munster Cloak, throughout the New England area, New York, Washington DC and Chicago. In 1976, the O'Connells moved to Ireland upon the death of Robbie's mother, Cáit (née Clancy) O'Connell to help run the family hotel. During this time, Robbie founded The Bread and Beer Band with childhood friends Tommy Keane, Paul Grant and Martin Murray.

Joining the Clancy Brothers

A nephew of the Clancy Brothers, he began touring with Paddy, Tom, and Bobby Clancy in 1977, taking the place of Liam Clancy who was working with Tommy Makem as a part of Makem and Clancy. O'Connell sang, played guitar and, occasionally, mandolin. In 1979 he and his family moved to Franklin, Massachusetts.[1]

Beginning in 1977, the Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell toured three months each a year in March, August, and November in the United States. O'Connell, who had been a songwriter since his early teens, composed several songs the group sang regularly, such as "Bobby's Britches," "Ferrybank Piper," and "You're Not Irish." He also included songs written by others, such as "Dear Boss," "Sister Josephine," "There Were Roses," "John O'Dreams," and what is possibly his signature song, "Killkelly." Reviews cited O'Connell 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, O'Connell emerged as an artist of major stature. He began touring with Mick Moloney and Jimmy Keane, and also with Eileen Ivers and Séamus Egan in the Green Fields of America.[1] The formation Moloney, O'Connell & Keane recorded two albums, both of which garnered critical acclaim. First was There Were Roses released in 1985 with the title track, the song "There Were Roses" penned by Tommy Sands. Second was Killkelly in 1987 containing the title track "Killkelly". Both albums were released on Green Linnet label.

O'Connell continued to perform part-time with the Clancy brothers for nineteen years. In 1992 he performed at Carnegie Hall with them and also sang and played the guitar on the telecast of a live tribute to Bob Dylan at Madison Square Garden.[1]

In 1996 Liam Clancy and O'Connell left 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.

Career after the Clancy Brothers

Liam Clancy and Robbie O'Connell toured for a while as a duo, but very soon added Liam's son Donal Clancy to the group, 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. O'Connell regards the self-titled Clancy, O'Connell and Clancy album as one of his favourite works. In 1999, with Liam in Ireland, O'Connell in Massachusetts and Donal in New York, the trio decided to call it quits as a full-time group. They occasionally regrouped for concerts, but as Liam's health declined, these were infrequent.

In 2000 the Milwaukee Irish Fest had its 20th anniversary, and in celebration the entire performing Clancy family sang together on one stage at the festival. This once-in-a-lifetime line-up included Robbie O'Connell, Donal, Liam, Bobby, Finbarr, and Aoife Clancy, along with friend Eddie Dillon, a collaborator of Bobby's. In 2006 O'Connell began an ongoing collaboration with his cousins Aoife and Donal Clancy. The Clancy Legacy, their first CD together was released in 2010.

In addition to his solo career, O'Connell also performs with Mick Moloney, The Greenfields of America, The Clancy Legacy, and occasionally with Dan Milner and Ed Miller. He is currently working on a new solo CD of his own compositions.

In 1995, O'Connell began hosting "Heart of Ireland" cultural tours wherein he would escort small groups of people to Ireland, concentrating on the musical and cultural traditions of particular areas. In 2003, WGBH radio host Brian O'Donovan asked O'Connell if he would use his expertise to put together and participate in a 'GBH Learning Tour. Both tours continue to run annually.

Partial discography

Solo
With Clancy Brothers
As Moloney, O'Connell & Keane
As Green Fields of America
Compilation albums

Video footage

Writings

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Princeton Folk Music Society

Further reading

The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem & Robbie O'Connell: The Men Behind the Sweaters, by Conor Murray

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