Milestones

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• Credits
  • Photography: Brian Neesam

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Ronnie Drew — It was thought Ronnie was the first Dubliner to play professionally, indeed their first line-up was known as "The Ronnie Drew Group". Prior to this he worked in the theatre with renowned act Johm Molloy and spent three years in Spain adding flamenco guitar to his unique voacl talents. The father figure of the group.

Barney McKenna — The man the group know as Barney Barney from Donneycarney is rarely seen without his instrument. Little wonder experts consinder him one of the best players ever to emerge fron Irelamd. Off stage he expresses his unique logic amd wit in the form of 'Barneyisms', ensuring there's never a dull moment on tour.

John Sheahan — The only classically trained Dubliner. John went to school with the Chieftains' Paddy Moloney before five years of violin training at Dublin's Municipal School of Music Intelligent and articulate. He has an interest in traditional music has played with everyone from the Fureys to Kate Bush and yet remains known to all as 'the quiet one'.

Sean Cannon — This native of Galway has spent many yearis in exile, living in Germanay, Switzerland and Spain before settling in England during the late-Sixties, where he became renown as a solo artist on the folk circut. Many appearances on the bill with the Dubliners led to an invitation in 1982 to join the group.

Eamonn Campbell — Born in Droghea, Co. Louth. Eamonn is widely regarded as Ireland's most sucsessful record producer. It was whilst a musician in Dermont O'Brien and the Clubmen that he first met the Dubliners, and went on to make guest appearances and produce their 25th anniversary album in 1987, after which he became a full time group member.

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The Dubliners were distilled in the back room of O'Donoghues Pub in Dublin at the start of the 1960's. Little did they think then, as they played and drank black porter, that they one day would become as famous an export as their favourite beverage.

Today, over 30 years later, they are Ireland's greatest ambassadors, spreading their music and culture worldwide with the enthusiasm and energy you would associate with men half their age. And this enthusiasm and charisma ensures instant communication with audiences of all ages, regardless of cultural or social backgrounds.

In March you might find them playing to the Aborigines of Australia, April entertaining the Eskimos of Lapland and then heading off for South America, the Albert Hall, The Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall or back to O'Donoghues Pub … they are all gigs to the Dubliners, who fix no boundaries to their brand of Irish Folk Music.

Even those of us with long memories find it difficult to remember when we first heard them. Phil Coulter, on the occasion of their 25th Anniversary, said of them "They had street credibility long before the phrase was even invented … They are in institution … like The Irish Permanent Building Society … It feels like they have always been with us".

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The Dubliners' were the hand that made me realise that good Irish music was basically the same thing as rock n' roll, or any good music — it hits you in the heart, soul, groin and feet — and bypasses the intellect. Their bearded, boozy image and the mixture of the two unique voices of Ronnie Drew and Luke Kelly and the brilliant playing of Barney McKenna, John Sheahan and Ciaran Bourke kept me interested in the raw traditional music I was brought up with all through the sixties and seventies, and even the mind-blowing explosion of Jimi Hendrix, and they still play great gigs and have never made a bad record. I thank Christ now because if I was only into rock/pop/soul/reggae etc, I'd be a very depressed person these days. Luke and Ciaran have gone now, but the young punk of the group, Eamonn, makes sure the beat goes on. Meeting and playing with them has been the high point for me. Here's to another 30 years a-greying.

Shane McGowan, April '95

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• Whiskey In The Jar
  • Vocals: Ronnie Drew & Shane McGowan, Music: The Dubliners & The Pogues.
  • Taken from the album 30 Years A-Greying.
  • Recorded in Westland Studios, Dublin, May 1992.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.

• Rocky Road To Dublin
  • Vocals: Luke Kelly & Banjo, Music: Ronnie Drew: Guitar, Barney McKenna: Banjo, Ciaran Bourke: Tin Whistle.
  • Recorded live in London in 1963 by Transatlantic Records. (The Dubliners)

• Raglan Road
  • Vocals: Sean Cannon, Music: John Sheahan: Whistle, Eamonn Campbell: Guitar.
  • Taken from the album The Dubliners' Dublin.
  • Recorded in Windmill Studios, Dublin in 1988. Orchestra Leader: Michael Healey.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.

• Leaving of Liverpool
  • Vocals: Ronnie Drew & Bob Lynch, Music: Ronnie Drew: Guitar, John Sheahan: Mandolin, Barney McKenna: Mandolin, Bob Lynch: Guitar, Ciaran Bourke: Whistle.
  • Recorded live in Cecil Sharp House, London, on 5th December 1964 for Transatlantic Records. (In Concert)

• Marino Waltz
  • Music: John Sheahan: Fiddle, Barney McKenna: Mandolin, Eamonn Campbell: Guitar.
  • Taken from the album Celebration.
  • Recorded at Westland Studios, Dublin, in January 1987.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.

• Roddy MacCorley
  • Vocals: Ciaran Bourke & Bob Lynch, Music: Ronnie Drew: Guitar, John Sheahan: Whistle Barney McKenna: Banjo, Bob Lynch: Guitar, Ciaran Bourke: Tin Whistle.
  • Recorded live in Cecil Sharp House, London, on 5th December 1964 for Transatlantic Records. (In Concert)

• I'm Asking 'You Sergeant Where's Mine
  • Vocals: Billy Connolly & Tenor Banjo, Music: John Sheahan: Fiddle & Concertina, Barney McKenna: Mandolin, Eamonn Campbell: Guitar.
  • Taken from the album 30 Years A-Greying.
  • Recorded in Westland Studios, Dublin, in May 1992.
  • Produced by Phil Coulter .

• Zoological Gardens
  • Vocals: Ronnie Drew &; Guitar, Music: John Sheahan: Fiddle, Barney McKenna: Banjo, Eamonn Campbell: Guitar.
  • Taken from the album The Dubliners' Dublin.
  • Recorded in Windmill Studios, Dublin, in 1988.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.

• The Sick Note
  • Vocals: Sean Cannon.
  • Taken from the album Celebration.
  • Recorded live in concert in Germany in December 1986.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.

• Reels: Cooley, The Dawn & Mullingar Races
  • Music: John Sheahan: Fiddle, Barney McKenna: Banjo, Eamonn Campbell: Guitar.
  • Taken from the album Celebration.
  • Recorded in Westland Studios, Dublin, in January 1987.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.

• Monto
  • Vocals: Luke Kelly & Ronnie Drew.
  • Recorded live in the Gate Theatre, Dublin, on April 26 & 27th 1966. Taken from the Transatlantic album Finnegan Wakes.
  • Produced by Nathan Joseph.

• Preab San Ol
  • Vocals: Ciaran Bourke & Luke Kelly.
  • Recorded live in London in 1963 by Transatlantic Records. (The Dubliners)

• I'm A Man You Don't Meet Everyday
  • Vocals: Barney McKenna, Music: John Sheahan: Fiddle, Eamonn Campbell: Guitar.
  • Taken from the album 30 Years A-Greying.
  • Recorded in Westland Studios, Dublin, in May 1992.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.

• Home Boys Home
  • Vocals: Luke Kelly & Banjo, Music: Ronnie Drew: Guitar, Barney McKenna: Banjo, Ciaran Bourke: Tin Whistle.
  • Recorded live in London in 1963 by Transatlantic Records. (The Dubliners)

• Spanish Lady
  • Vocals: Sean Cannon, Music: John Sheahan: Concertina & Tin Whistle, Barney McKenna: Banjo, Eamonn Campbell: Guitar.
  • Taken from the album The Dubliners' Dublin.
  • Recorded in Windmill Studios, Dublin, in 1988.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.

• Masons Apron
  • Music: Barney McKenna: Banjo, John Sheahan: Fiddle, Ronnie Drew: Guitar. Ciaran Bourke: Guitar, Bob Lynch: Guitar.
  • Recorded live in Cecil Sharp House, London, on the 5th December 1964 for Transatlantic Records. (In Concert)

• Barley and Grape Rag
  • Vocals: Ronnie Drew & Rory Gallagher, Music: John Sheahan: Fiddle, Barney McKenna: Banjo, Eamonn Campbell: Guitar Rory Gallagher: Guitar & Harmonica, Rory Boyle: Tuba, Jim Leverton: Bass Guitar.
  • Taken from the album 30 Years A-Greying.
  • Recorded in Raezor Studios, London, on 30th May 1992.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.

• Irish Rover
  • Vocals: Ronnie Drew & Shane MacGowan, Music: The Dubliners & The Pogues.
  • Taken from the album Celebration.
  • Recorded in Elephont Studios, London, in September 1986.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.

• The Auld Triangle
  • Vocals: Luke Kelly, Backing Vocals: Ronnie Drew, John Sheahan, Barney McKenna, Sean Cannon.
  • Taken from the album 30 Years A-Greying.
  • Recorded live in Amsterdam in 1983.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.

• Seven Drunken Nights
  • Vocals: Ronnie Drew, Music: John Sheahan: Fiddle, Barney McKenna: Banjo, Sean Cannon: Guitar, Eamonn Campbell: Guitar.
  • Taken from the album The Dubliners' Dublin.
  • Recorded in Windmill Studios, Dublin, in 1988.
  • Produced by Eamonn Campbell.