Andy Irvine

Andy Irvine has shaped traditional Irish music across more than thirty years. London-born and skilled on multiple instruments as well as vocals, he first gained notice in Sweeney's Men and Planxty before sustaining the island's musical heritage through solo work, pairings with Dick Gaughan and Paul Brady, and his role as a founder of the Irish supergroup Patrick Street.

Born to a Scottish father and an Irish mother, Irvine drew early encouragement from his actress parent to enter theater, appearing in numerous films and stage productions while still young. Music ultimately proved the stronger pull. After taking up guitar, he performed in several teenage skiffle groups and developed a taste for traditional folk along with the songs of Woody Guthrie. Relocating to Dublin in the early 1960s, he entered the local folk scene and shared stages with Irish players such as Johnny Moynihan, Luke Kelly, and Ronnie Drew. In 1966, following tours alongside Moynihan and Joe Dolan, Irvine helped establish Sweeney's Men. Although the band lasted only two years, it ignited a revival of traditional Irish music and scored two hits with "Waxies Dargle" and "Old Maid in the Garret."

Irvine departed Sweeney's Men in May 1968 and spent the next eighteen months busking through Bulgaria, Romania, and Yugoslavia, where he absorbed the music of eastern Europe. Upon returning to Ireland he collaborated with Donal Lunny and Christy Moore. After contributing to Moore's 1972 album Prosperous, Irvine joined Moore, Lunny, and Liam O'Flynn to create the trad-rock outfit Planxty. Despite repeated lineup shifts, the group remained active until late 1975.

During 1976 and 1977 Irvine teamed with Paul Brady—resulting in a joint album—and with Mick Hanley. When Planxty's original members reconvened in 1978, Irvine rejoined and stayed until 1983, when Lunny and Moore exited to launch Moving Hearts. Following the band's dissolution, he issued his first solo record, Rainy Sundays....Windy Dreams, and the duo album Parallel Lines with Dick Gaughan. He also performed briefly with De Danann and joined Lunny and Declan Masterson in the multinational ensemble Mosaic, which concentrated on traditional eastern European repertoire.

Irvine next formed a duo with Gerry O'Beirne that expanded to include Kevin Burke and Jackie Daly of De Danann. After O'Beirne stepped aside in favor of Arty McGlynn, the ensemble took the name Patrick Street and released three albums between 1986 and 1989. During a 1989 hiatus Irvine recorded his second solo effort, Rude Awakening, and contributed to the multi-artist collection East Wind, which gathered Bulgarian and Macedonian tunes. In 1993 he renewed his work with Patrick Street.