… life after Tommy Makem
Below is a post Tommy Makem chronical of events, with emphasis on the Clancys as a group. For more information on Tommy Makem, Liam Clancy, Makem & Clancy, Bobby Clancy, Louis Killen, Robbie O'Connell and Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy, solo releases and guest appearances, etc., please visit their respective pages on this site.
Bobby Clancy joins …
1969: Bobby Clancy, the brother who'd stayed in Ireland to run the family insurance business, becomes Tommy Makem's first replacement. In addition, Finbar and Eddie Furey join and "the Clancy Brothers" tour as a six piece group for a year and a half. Eddie and Furey play on the first 2 Columbia albums [1] [2] with Bobby, but go uncredited on the LPs.
The Clancy Brothers Christmas is released.
1970: Flowers in the Valley is released and marks the groups' final album for Columbia Records.
The Clancys (Paddy, Tom, Liam & Bobby) record one more album, Welcome to Our House on the Audio Fidelity label.
1971: By the end of the year, Bobby leaves the group, apparently, after an argument with Liam.
… with Louis Killen
1971: Following Bobby Clancy's departure, Geordie singer, Louis Killen joins the Clancys. Louis had been a mainstay in the British Folk revival since the early 60's. Louis played concertina on CBTM albums "Home Boys Home" and "Sing of the Sea." and while Louis did play the banjo, his primary instrument is concertina (as well as tin whistle & spoons). The Clancys with Louis Killen tour together for 3 years.
1972: The Clancys with Louis Killen release 2 albums; Show Me The Way & Save The Land.
1973: Live On St. Patrick's Day and Greatest Hits are released.
1974: Both Liam and Louis both leave the group. According to Sean McGuinness, "Evidently the reason Liam left was that Tom got an acting job and refused to go on a scheduled tour of Australia. Pat then said, ‘If Tom isn't going, I'm not going.’ Then, Liam and Louis quit."
Prior to this break up, the group film a TV special for Brockton television in 1974. Bobby Clancy makes a surprise appearance
towards the end of the concert and joins his brothers and Louis on stage for "the Mountain Tay".
Makem & Clancy
1975: After an appearance by Tommy Makem on Liam Clancy's Canadian TV series, a string of events leads to the full time formation of Makem & Clancy. The duo remains together for 13 years before amicably splitting up. [more]
… with Robbie O'Connell
1977: After a 3-year dormant period, the group is reformed with Pat, Tom, Bobby and their nephew Robbie O'Connell. This line-up remains until Tom's death in 1990. This group only tours in the US for about two to three months a year. Tommy Makem and Liam have reunited in 1975 to form Makem & Clancy, and yet (apparently), Liam is still asked to re-join his brothers. And according to Wikipedia: "Liam declined the offer to join the brothers, much to Tom's chagrin."
1982: The Clancy Brothers (with Robbie O'Connell) release Live, their first album in 8 years.
Reunion
1984: The original group Paddy, Tom, Liam and Tommy Makem are the subject of a documentary, the Story of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, produced by their old friend, David Hammond.
On April 28th CBTM appear on Ireland's Late Late Show. The group performs a dress rehearsal concert Tommy Makem's Irish Pavilion and the long awaited CBTM reunion concert on May 20th, at the Lincoln Center — the tickets sell out within a week of going on sale.
Reunion, a LP for from the Lincoln center concert is released.
CBTM perform a concert at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, which is filmed. This video, Reunion Concert at the Ulster Hall, Belfast, is released in 1991.
1985: CBTM continue to tour through the fall of the year. After that, to my knowledge, the original group never performs together again.
Tom Clancy RIP
1985: Tom & Paddy with Bobby and Robbie O'Connell resume touring; as do Makem & Clancy.
1987: Tunes 'n' Tales of Ireland is released, arguably "The Clancy Brothers" worst album.
1988: After 13 successful years, Makem and Clancy amicably split.
1990: All four Clancy Brothers reunite to appear in The BBC/RTE documentary "Bringing it all back Home: The Influence of Irish Music in America". Tommy Makem also appears in separate segments.
In May, Tom Clancy is diagnosed with stomach cancer. Liam re-joins the group during his brother's illness.
Tom Clancy passes away November 7th at the age of 66.
Liam returns
1991: Liam stays on as a full time member of group.
The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell make their first of 3 appearances on Regis and Kathy Lee.
CBRO make their first of several annual Caribbean cruises for Irish Festival Cruises.
1992: In October, CBRO perform at Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration at Madison Square Garden. Tommy Makem appears with the group as a "special guest". This is the last public/professional appearance of Tommy Makem with the Clancys.
1995: CBRO release Older But No Wiser, the Clancy Brothers first studio album in 22 years. Liam's son Dónal plays on CD.
1996: CBRO give "Farewell" Tours in American (in February) and Ireland (in March).
A concert in Clonmel, County Tipperary is filmed and released as Farewell to Ireland. Bobby's son Finbarr joins the group (primarily on bass) on the Farewell video.
Liam leaves the group due to financial disputes with Paddy stemming The Irish Festival Cruises. Robbie O'Connell also leaves the group at this time.
Paddy and Bobby carry on as "the Clancy Brothers" — they are joined on a full time basis by Bobby's son, Finbarr.
Liam and Robbie initially tour as a duo, and then are joined by Dónal Clancy to form "Clancy, O'Connell and Clancy". [more]
The Last Hurrah!
1997: The Clancy Brothers add Eddie Dillon to the line-up.
1998: Paddy is diagnosed with brain & lung cancer. Paddy Clancy passes away on November 11th at the age of 76.
"The Clancys and Eddie Dillon", (Bobby, Finbarr and Eddie) resume touring as trio.
1999: Clancy, O'Connell and Clancy amicably split up.
The Clancys and Eddie Dillon release Clancy Sing-a-Long Songs.
Bobby is diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.
2000: The entire performing Clancy Family sing together on one stage at 20th anniversary of Milwaukee Irish Festival — Liam, Bobby, Finbarr, Dónal and Aoife Clancy, Robbie O'Connell, with Eddie Dillon. This is the last time Bobby and Liam appeared together on stage.
2001: Once in A Lifetime: An Evening of Fine Irish Music, featuring 14 songs by The Clancys (Bobby, Finbarr, Aoife) & Eddie Dillon. This is Bobby Clancy's final "Clancys" recording.
2002: Bobby Clancy passes away on September 6th at the age of 75.
2007: Tommy Makem passes away on August 1st, after a year long battle with lung cancer, at the age of 74.
2008: In July, Live At The Bitter End New York - Liam Clancy & Friends is filmed at The Bitter End club in Greenwich Village, New York. The concert is specially staged and filmed before an invited audience with performances from, Odetta, Tom Paxton, Shane MacGowan and Gemma Hayes.
2009: In February, The Yellow Bittern: the Life and Times of Liam Clancy is screened at the Dublin Film Festival.
Liam Clancy passes away on December 4th at the age of 74 in Bon Secours Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
Epilogue
Louis Killen continues to perform. After being based in the United States for many years, he lives once again in his home town of Gateshead.
In addition to their solo careers, Robbie O'Connell, Aoife, and Dónal Clancy tour as the Clancy Legacy. In addition, Dónal Clancy is also a member of Danú.
Finbarr Clancy is a member of the High Kings.
Tommy Makem's sons, Rory, Shane and Connor tour with Liam and Mickey Spain as the Makem and Spain Brothers.
Tommy Makem's nephews, Jimmy and Tom Sweeney toured for many years, with P.V. O'Donnell, as Barley Bree. Jimmy and Tom both currently perform as solo musicians.
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem deserve our greatest admiration and respect. Their influence and impact on Irish music is still felt today, 50-years on. Ask anyone with even a slight knowledge or passing interest in Irish music and I'll wager the names they'll all come up with are "The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem".