The Boys of the Lough rose to prominence among folk music's most influential acts by bringing a joyful spirit to Celtic traditions. Based in Ireland since their formation in the 1960s, the band helped drive the ongoing development of traditional Irish music.
They first assembled in 1967 as a trio that included Cathal McConnell, already the 1962 all-Ireland champion on flute and tin whistle, together with Tommy Gunn and Robin Morton. After Gunn departed two years later, McConnell and Morton cut their initial release, An Irish Jubilee, working simply as a duo. At the Folkirk Folk Festival in 1971 they crossed paths with Shetland fiddler Aly Bain and singer/guitarist Mike Whelan; the two pairs decided to merge.
Personnel shifts soon followed. Guitarist and vocalist Dick Gaughan replaced Whelan in 1972, then yielded his spot the next year to Northumbrian cittern, banjo, and mandolin player Dave Richardson. The resulting lineup issued six albums, among them the live sets Live at Passim, taped at the Cambridge, Massachusetts coffeehouse, and Wish You Were Here, captured on tour through the Scottish Highlands.
Founding member Robin Morton exited in 1979 and was succeeded on guitar by Dave Richardson's brother Tish. Tish remained until his death in an auto accident in 1984, at which point British guitarist Chris Newman joined; uilleann pipes, tin whistle, and mouth organ player Christy O'Leary, previously with De Dannan, was added simultaneously. In October 1997 accordion player Brendan Begley and guitar, mandocello, and piano player Garry O'Briain took over for Newman and O'Leary. Founding member Robin Morton died on October 1, 2021, at the age of 81.
