The Clancy Tradition

The Clancy Tradition's origins are found in Ireland in the 1950s when the Clancy family of Moy, County Tyrone formed a Ceili Band, playing at Irish country dances and concerts throughout Ireland. In 1960, three Clancy brothers — Pat Clancy, Eugene Clancy and Brendan Clancy — left Ireland to tour the United States as The Irish Ramblers. The Irish Ramblers, Pat Clancy, Eugene Clancy and Brendan Clancy toured for a period of three years, playing at clubs like Gerde's Folk City & Carnegie Hall(!), and in 1963 recorded the album, The Patriot Game, on Electra Records. Their musical tradition is currently being passed to the next generation with The Clancy Tradition: Eugene on guitar & vocals, daughter Rosemary Clancy on fiddle & mandolin, son John Clancy on bass, Pat on piano & accordion, daughter Liadain Clancy singing and Mike Melanophy on button accordion. “Ordinary music for ordinary people,” Eugene likes to say of The Clancy Tradition’s playing and singing, but the listener will find it anything but ordinary. From those Sunday afternoons in Armagh many years ago, to the Wednesday night sessions at Eugene and Cecilia’s home, their music keeps faith with the past and rouses the soul of all who hear them.