The Clancy Brothers

The Clancy Brothers were an Irish folk music band, most popular in the 1960s, who are often credited with popularizing Irish traditional music in the United States. The brothers were Pat, Tom, and Liam. Though born in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland, they did not begin playing together until the emigrated to the United States where, in 1955, they met Tommy Makem in New York City. For years the quartet performed as The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.

The four were primarily vocalists, though Makem was an accomplsihed banjo and tin whistle player, and Liam played guitar. Pat would sometimes play harmonica. Nevertheless they often were accomplanied by other musicians, notably Pete Seeger on several occasions.

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem recorded dozens of albums together, starting with The Rising of the Moon (also known as Irish Songs of Rebellion). After Makem broke with the group he was often replaced with the Clancy's nephew, the accomplished musician Robbie O'Connell. They have also recorded with other artists, notably Lou Killen. When Tom died in 1990 he was replaced with their brother Bobby. Pat died in 1998.

The group's trademark were their white Irish wool sweaters, which they wore on nearly all their album covers, but not necessarily their live performances.

Since the group's split, Liam and O'Connell have toured as