Ruth Leon recommends… The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem and Val Doonican

The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem and Val Doonican

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This is a bit of fun for a time when fun is somewhat thin on the ground. Val Doonican was an Irish singer of traditional pop, easy listening, and novelty songs, who was noted for his warm and relaxed style as well as his comfortable sweaters and Irish twinkle. He was a huge but unlikely star in Britain in the 1960s, with one of the most popular programmes on BBC television.

Tommy Makem was best known as a member of The Clancy Brothers although he came from a distinguished Irish folk music family and had a long solo career in the United States. He was known as “The Bard of Armagh” (taken from a traditional song of the same name) and “The Godfather of Irish Music”. Here, Tommy Makem and The Clancy Brothers team up with Val Doonican for, what else?,  a traditional Irish song.

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