The Chieftains

The Chieftains

The Chieftains are an Irish traditional music group from Dublin, Ireland, active from 1962 to 2023. They perform celtic, folk and Irish folk music, and are known for helping to popularise Irish traditional music internationally.

History and membership

The group forms in Dublin in 1962 and goes through several membership changes in its early years. Its lineup settles in 1979 when Matt Molloy replaces Michael Tubridy. Other members over time include David Fallon, Seán Potts, Michael Tubridy, Martin Fay, Paddy Moloney, Peadar Mercier, Seán Keane, Derek Bell, Ronnie McShane and Kevin Conneff.

Paddy Moloney leads the band and composes or arranges much of its music. In the settled lineup, Moloney plays uilleann pipes, tin whistle, button accordion and bodhrán; Molloy plays flute and tin whistle; Conneff plays bodhrán and sings; Keane plays fiddle and tin whistle; Fay plays fiddle and bones; Bell plays Irish harp, keyboard instruments and oboe.

Recordings and collaborations

The Chieftains record many albums of instrumental Irish folk music. They also make collaborations with artists and traditions outside Irish music, including country music, Galician traditional music, Cape Breton and Newfoundland music, and rock and roll.

They perform with Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Elvis Costello, Tom Jones, Sinéad O'Connor, James Galway, Jackson Browne and Nancy Griffith, as well as numerous country-western artists.

Recognition

The group wins six Grammy Awards and receives eighteen Grammy nominations. In 1975, their playing of “Women of Ireland” for Stanley Kubrick’s film Barry Lyndon brings them particular notice. In 2002, they receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from BBC Radio 2.

Album artwork

The front covers of the first four albums are designed by Edward Delaney.