Born in Drumlish, Co. Longford, Eire, Nerney grew up on a North Longford farm where his early listening drew from both recorded artists and those encountered in live settings. The Beatles, Duane Eddy, Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones figured among the former, while Philomena Begley, the Capitol Showband and Joe Dolan represented the latter. He acquired a guitar and mastered the instrument by listening to records, joining the local showband the Hi-Lo’s once he reached sixteen. During his time at St. Mel’s College, Longford, he performed with Gene Stuart And The Homesteaders; he later joined Brian Coll And The Buckaroos, where his distinctive falsetto became a signature element.
After passing through several further groups, Nerney launched a solo career in the late 80s. Since then he has drawn large audiences for live concerts both in Ireland and across the USA, while also enjoying success as a recording artist. Among the songs in his repertoire—several of which he wrote, frequently alongside Henry McMahon—are ‘Anna From Fermanagh’, ‘Blue Side Of Lonesome’, ‘I Don’t Need A Picture’, ‘Lovely Derry On The Banks Of The Foyle’, ‘Come With Me Molly’, ‘Just Call Me Lonesome From Now On’, ‘Barry And Dunne’, ‘Among The Wicklow Hills’ and ‘Good Night And God Bless’, the last of these serving as the number with which he almost invariably closes his stage performances.
