The band has recorded many albums of instrumental Irish folk music, as well as multiple collaborations with popular musicians of many genres, including Country music, Galician traditional music, Cape Breton and Newfoundland music, and rock and roll. They have performed with Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Elvis Costello, Tom Jones, Sinéad O'Connor, James Galway, Jackson Browne, Nancy Griffith and numerous Country-western artists. In 1975, the group won praise for their playing of "Women of Ireland" for Stanley Kubrick's movie Barry Lyndon.
They have won six Grammy Awards and have been nominated eighteen times. In 2002 they were given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the UK's BBC Radio 2. The front covers of the first four albums were designed by Edward Delaney.
Paddy Moloney is the band's leader, and composes or arranges most of the band's music. While the band's members changed numerous times in the band's early history, the membership solidified in 1979 when Matt Molloy replaced Michael Tubridy.
From then until 2002, members included:
Paddy Moloney (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, button accordion, bodhrán)
Matt Molloy (flute, tin whistle)
Kevin Conneff (bodhrán, vocals)
Seán Keane (fiddle, tin whistle)
Martin Fay (fiddle, bones) (born 1938; died 14 November 2012)
Derek Bell (Irish harp, keyboard instruments, oboe) (born 21 October 1935; died 17 October 2002)
In 2002, Fay retired from active membership. In the same year, Bell died due to complications following a minor operation. Fay died on 14 November 2012.
Killybegs
The Chieftains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beside my Uncle John my daughters 'cross the table there
I'd walked the docks in misty rain; a pain was in my legs
But I'd seen the dream of kinsmen in the boats of Killybegs
The ban'er of my Uncle and my daughters filled the air
And the Donegalers next to us were glad that we were there
I was kind of quite listening out the window ledge
For the music of the harbour, the birds of Killybegs
Down the coast not far was Galway, planned the joys from Connemara
After supper and a sleep, we would be going there tomorra'
I worried if my words would ere be sung by Irishmen
Or rot here on the docks, like the fish of Killybegs
A radio was playin' though we never heard a word
For the rhythm of the music was familiar if absurd
A hearkening intensity for silence did I beg
Oh what a song was playing in the air of Killybegs
I couldn't quite believe it for it sounded rather strange
The instruments were different and the key had been changed
I reached to turn the volume up, then teeter on my leg
A girl from Tipperary sang my song in Killybegs
The Chieftains’ song Killybegs is a beautiful tribute to the fishing town of Killybegs in County Donegal, Ireland. The lyrics describe the singer’s experience of visiting his Uncle John in Killybegs with his daughters. Despite the pain in his legs, he is filled with a warm familial love as he sits around the table with his family. The music playing in the background brings a sense of familiarity and comfort, and he listens intently for the sounds of the boats in the harbor and the birds of Killybegs. The singer expresses concern about whether his words will ever be sung by Irishmen or if they will be forgotten like the fish that are caught and processed in Killybegs. However, his worries are quickly forgotten when he hears a girl from Tipperary sing his song in Killybegs, making him feel connected to the town and its people.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart was warm with family love, as I slipped into a chair
I felt a sense of warmth and love as I sat down next to my uncle and daughters at the table.
Beside my Uncle John my daughters 'cross the table there
I sat next to my Uncle John and across from my daughters at the table.
I'd walked the docks in misty rain; a pain was in my legs
Despite the pain in my legs from walking in the rain, I was still excited to have seen the boats of Killybegs and feel connected to my kinsmen's dreams.
But I'd seen the dream of kinsmen in the boats of Killybegs
The sight of the boats of Killybegs filled me with hope and a sense of familial connection.
The ban'er of my Uncle and my daughters filled the air
The conversation and laughter of my uncle and daughters created a joyful atmosphere.
And the Donegalers next to us were glad that we were there
Our presence was welcomed by the people of Donegal who were sitting next to us.
I was kind of quite listening out the window ledge
I was quietly listening to the sounds of the harbour and the birds outside.
For the music of the harbour, the birds of Killybegs
I was listening for the natural sounds of the harbour and the surrounding area of Killybegs.
Down the coast not far was Galway, planned the joys from Connemara
We had plans to enjoy the sights and sounds of Connemara in Galway the next day.
After supper and a sleep, we would be going there tomorra'
Our plans were to go to Galway the next day after having dinner and a good night's sleep.
I worried if my words would ere be sung by Irishmen
I was concerned if my written words would ever be sung by Irish musicians.
Or rot here on the docks, like the fish of Killybegs
I worried that my words would go unnoticed and be forgotten like the fish on the docks.
A radio was playin' though we never heard a word
We were not paying attention to the words being said on the radio.
For the rhythm of the music was familiar if absurd
Even though the music playing was unusual, the rhythm felt familiar.
A hearkening intensity for silence did I beg
I was so fully engrossed in the music that I asked for silence to fully listen and appreciate it.
Oh what a song was playing in the air of Killybegs
The song playing on the radio in Killybegs created a beautiful atmosphere.
I couldn't quite believe it for it sounded rather strange
The music playing on the radio sounded different and unfamiliar to me.
The instruments were different and the key had been changed
The instruments being used and the key of the song had been altered.
I reached to turn the volume up, then teeter on my leg
I tried to turn up the volume on the radio but nearly lost my balance.
A girl from Tipperary sang my song in Killybegs
To my surprise, a girl from Tipperary was singing a song I had written on the radio in Killybegs.
Contributed by Sarah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tom canterbury
on North Amerikay
the great accapella version by kevin on tribute to their harpist