Short on History, Long on Influence
The Bothy Band came together in late 1974 at a musical celebration of 25 years of the record label Gael Linn. When Donal Lunny left Planxty to start his own label, Mulligan Records, in 1975 he got the group together again. While their history only spans a few years in the mid- to late 1970s, their style and enthusiasm were very influential in the development of Irish music and their albums continue to be sought by fans.
The Drunken Landlady
The Morning Star, The Fishermans Lilt and The Drunken Landlady
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Updating Tradition in Celtic Music
The initial lineup of the Bothy Band was:
Dónal Lunny, bouzouki guitar and producer
Paddy Glackin, fiddle
Tony MacMahon, accordion
Matt Molloy, flute and tin whistle
Paddy Keenan, uillean pipes and tin whistle
Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, harpsichord, clavinet and vocals
Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, guitar and vocals
Glackin and MacMahon left before the first album was recorded. Tommy Peoples replaced Glackin and appeared on the first album. When he left, he was replaced by Kevin Burke, who appears on the rest of the albums.
The Bothy Band only recorded three studio albums, with the second in 1976 and the third in 1977. A live concert album, recorded in Paris, was released in 1979, after which the group disbanded.
In their short time together, the Bothies became known for their lively renderings of traditional music and their willingness to update the tradition with a more contemporary feel. This is something commonly done these days, but in the mid-70s it was something new.
Glackin and MacMahon left before the first album was recorded. Tommy Peoples replaced Glackin and appeared on the first album. When he left, he was replaced by Kevin Burke, who appears on the rest of the albums.
The Bothy Band only recorded three studio albums, with the second in 1976 and the third in 1977. A live concert album, recorded in Paris, was released in 1979, after which the group disbanded.
In their short time together, the Bothies became known for their lively renderings of traditional music and their willingness to update the tradition with a more contemporary feel. This is something commonly done these days, but in the mid-70s it was something new.
After the Bothy Band
Donal Lunny rejoined Planxty for a while, and has been a successful producer of many Celtic acts. He has also recorded with many of the top names in Irish music.
Matt Molloy went on to join the Chieftains and he also owns a pub in Westport, County Mayo, where "Music at Matt Molloy's" was recorded in the early 1990s.
Paddy Keenan has had a successful solo career, playing at noted venues on both sides of the Atlantic.
Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill moved to the United States and formed Touchstone, which released two albums. Later, she joined her brother and the Cunningham brothers, Phil and Johnny, in Relativity, which also released two albums. Again with her brother, she was part of the Celtic-influenced New Age group Nightnoise. She recorded an album with her sister Maighread in 1999.
Mícheál Ó Domhnaill worked with Kevin Burke following the Bothy Band years, then moved to Portland, Oregon, where he joined with American Billy Oskay to form Nightnoise. He then joined with Tríona and the Cunningham brothers for two albums, then Nightnoise expanded beyond the original duo. He moved back to Ireland in the late 1990s. He died at his home in Dublin in 2006 as the result of a fall.
Matt Molloy went on to join the Chieftains and he also owns a pub in Westport, County Mayo, where "Music at Matt Molloy's" was recorded in the early 1990s.
Paddy Keenan has had a successful solo career, playing at noted venues on both sides of the Atlantic.
Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill moved to the United States and formed Touchstone, which released two albums. Later, she joined her brother and the Cunningham brothers, Phil and Johnny, in Relativity, which also released two albums. Again with her brother, she was part of the Celtic-influenced New Age group Nightnoise. She recorded an album with her sister Maighread in 1999.
Mícheál Ó Domhnaill worked with Kevin Burke following the Bothy Band years, then moved to Portland, Oregon, where he joined with American Billy Oskay to form Nightnoise. He then joined with Tríona and the Cunningham brothers for two albums, then Nightnoise expanded beyond the original duo. He moved back to Ireland in the late 1990s. He died at his home in Dublin in 2006 as the result of a fall.
Sixteen Come Next Sunday
Triona sings at the Embankment in Dublin, Ireland. Recorded in September 1976.
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1975: The First Album
Track Listings1. Kesh Jig/Give Us A Drink Of Water/The Flower Of The Flock/Famous Ballymote
2. Green Groves Of Erin/The Flowers Of Red Hill
3. Do You Love An Apple
4. Julia Delaney
5. Patsey Geary's/Coleman's Cross
6. Is Trua Nach Bhfuil Me In Eirinn
7. Navvy On The Line/The Rainy Day
8. Tar Road To Sligo/Paddy Clancy's
9. Martin Wynn's/The Longford Tinker
10. Pretty Peg/Craig's Pipes
11. Hector The Hero/The Laird Of Drumblaire (Strthspey And Reel)
12. Traveller/The Humours Of Lissadel
13. Butterfly
14. Salamanca/The Banshee/The Sailor's Bonnet
1975: The First Album from Amazon.com
1975: The First Album from Amazon.co.uk
Tiocfaidh an Samhradh
Micheal O'Domhniall sings "The Summer is Coming" with Kevin Burke on fiddle and Donal Lunny on guitar
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Old Hag You Have Killed Me
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Track Listings
1. Music In The Glen
2. Fionnghuala
3. Kid On The Mountain
4. Farewell To Erin
5. Summer Will Come
6. Laurel Tree
7. Sixteen Come Next Sunday
8. Old Hag You Have Killed Me
9. Calum Sgaire
10. Ballintore Fancy
11. Maid Of Coolmore
12. Michael Gorman's Reel
Old Hag You Have Killed Me
Old Hag You Have Killed Me from Amazon.co.uk
Track Listings1. Music In The Glen
2. Fionnghuala
3. Kid On The Mountain
4. Farewell To Erin
5. Summer Will Come
6. Laurel Tree
7. Sixteen Come Next Sunday
8. Old Hag You Have Killed Me
9. Calum Sgaire
10. Ballintore Fancy
11. Maid Of Coolmore
12. Michael Gorman's Reel
Old Hag You Have Killed Me
Old Hag You Have Killed Me from Amazon.co.uk
Out of the Wind Into the Sun
Track Listings1. Morning Star
2. Maids Of Mitchelstown
3. Rip The Calico
4. Streets Of Derry
5. Pipe On The Hob
6. Sailor Boy
7. Blackbird
8. Strayaway Girl
9. Factory Girl
10. Slides
Out of the Wind into the Sun
Out of the Wind and Into the Sun from Amazon.co.uk
After Hours (Live in Paris)
Track Listings1. The Kesh Jig/Give Us a Drink of Water/The Famous Ballymote
2. The Butterfly - The Bothy Band, Traditional
3. Casadh an Tsúgáin
4. Farewell to Erin - The Bothy Band, Traditional
5. The Heathery Hills of Yarrow
6. The Death of Queen Jane
7. The Pipe on the Hob/The Hag at the Churn
8. The Priest/Mary Willie's/This Is My Love/Do You Like Her?
9. How Can I Live at the Top of a Mountain?
10. Rosie Finn's Favourite/Over the Water to Charlie/The Kid on the ...
11. The Green Groves of Erin/The Flowers of Red Hill - The Bothy Band, Traditional
After Hours (Live in Paris) [LIVE]
After Hours (Live in Paris) from Amazon.co.uk
The Humours of Loughrea
Billy Brockers/The Humours of Loughrea and The Laurel Tree, recorded at The Embankment in 1977.
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The Best of the Bothy Band
Track Listings1. Reels: The Salamanca/The Bansee/The Sailor's Bonnet
2. Pretty Peg/Craig's Pipes [Song & Reel]
3. Air, Set Dance and Reel: The Blackbird
4. Reel: The Maids of Mitchelstown
5. Casadh an Tsúgáin
6. Reels: Music in Glen/The Humours of Scariff/The Otter's Holt
7. Fionnghuala
8. Old Hag You Have Killed Me [Jig]
9. Do You Love an Apple?
10. Rip the Calico: Leitrim Fancy/Round the World for Sport/Rip the Calico/
11. Death of Queen Jane
12. Green Groves of Erin/The Flowers of Red Hill [Reels]
The Best of the Bothy Band
The Best of the Bothy Band from Amazon.co.uk
Fionnaghuala
Usually called 'Eilean nam Bothan' - 'The Island of Huts' (Bothy and Bothan mean the same - a hut.) Micheal learned this song from Calum Johnston of the Isle of Barra. This is just the audio, but it's a vocal tour de force well worth hearing.
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The Bothy Band Live in Concert
Recorded at BBC Radio One
Track Listings1. Martin Wynne's/The Longford Tinker
2. Two Jigs/The Kid in the Mountain
3. Patsy Geary's/Coleman's Cross
4. Sixteen Comes Next Sunday
5. Micheal Gorman's/The Frieze Breeches/The Road to Lisdoonvarna/Joe ...
6. Lucy Campbell/The Laurel Tree
7. Fionnghuala
8. Farewell to Erin
9. Kesh Jig/Give Us a Drink of Water/The Flower of the Flock/Famous ...
10. Tar Road to Sligo/Paddy Clancy's
11. Maids of Mitchelstown
12. I Wish My Love Was a Red Red Rose
13. Piping Solo: Garret Barry's/The Bucks of Oranmore
14. Morning Star/The Fisherman's Lilt/The Drunken Landlady
15. Do You Love an Apple?
16. Jig and Five Reels: Roger Sherlock's/Around the World/Rip the Calico
BBC Radio One: The Bothy Band Live In Concert [LIVE]
Live in Concert from Amazon.co.uk
Bothy Band Links
- FolkWorld article on the Bothy Band
- An excellent article about how the Bothies came together, changed, and where they each went. "Most of today's Irish music groups were unthinkable if it wasn't for the Bothies. Imagine: no Altan, no Dervish, no Lúnasa!"
- Ceolas Bothy Band page
- A brief profile and discography.
- The Bothy Band on Wikipedia
- A brief article with many text links to artists, instruments, and other groups that came before and after the Bothies.
- The Bothy Band Video Showcase
- Features 15 YouTube videos of the Bothy Band.
- Celtic Music - Lenses
- A lens to help you find similar lenses I've made.
- Celtic music video showcases by MobyD
- A listing of my Celtic music video showcases, including links to the associated lens for the artists.
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