A popular and long-running Canadian-Irish folk group that saw their beginni… Read Full Bio ↴A popular and long-running Canadian-Irish folk group that saw their beginning in the 1960s, The Irish Rovers are particularly well-known for their hit recording of Shel Silverstein's "The Unicorn," although a great many more of their characteristically happy and oft-comical songs remain well-known to this day. In 2010, the band celebrated 45 years as recording artists, with their latest CD, "Gracehill Fair" and filming the DVD/television special "Home in Ireland", shot entirely on-location, throughout the northwest coast of Ireland. George Millar says, “It’s basically The Irish Rovers ‘Coming Home’ because this is our home, for all of us. We want to show the world what the northwest Irish coast is like. I’ve traveled the world now for over 40 years and there’s nothing like it.”

In 1968, the predecessor of the Juno’s named The Irish Rovers Canada’s, “Folk Group of the Year”, and the following year, they received a Grammy nomination for “Folk Performance of the Year”.

As hosts of three national television series in Canada and Ireland, through the 1970's and 80s, The Irish Rovers increased the popularity of Irish music by way of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).

Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, personally asked the band if they could “please become Canadian” so that they could officially represent Canada throughout the world. Since then, they have represented Canada at no less than five world Expos, and in recognition for a quarter century of contributions to the International music world, The Irish Rovers won the Performing Rights Organization's (PROCAN) 'Harold Moon Award'.

Although all members of the band hail from Ireland, a number of their biggest hits were often "non-Irish". Their own rousing, traditional Irish compositions, however, do comprise the bulk of their music.

By the 90’s, their songwriting was even more prolific than their early years, and production of albums wasn’t about to slow down. Since they desired the freedom that as a younger band, they could not afford, in ’93 The Irish Rovers established their own record company, Rover Records. Their songs tell the story of the Irish, whether it’s a lost love, a sailor on leave, or the simple good taste of a Guinness. Rover Records has put out their last eleven albums, including Celtic Collection, Come Fill Up Your Glasses, Down by the Lagan Side, Another Round, Still Rovin', a Christmas album, and their greatest hits, 40 Years A-Rovin'.

Founding member George Millar is from Ballymena, original member Wilcil McDowell is from Larne, John Reynolds from Belfast, Sean O'Driscoll from Cork, Ian Millar from Ballymena, and percussionist Fred Graham is also from Belfast.

Former members include founding member Jimmy Ferguson who passed away in 1997 and Joe Millar.

Dan O'Hara
The Irish Rovers Lyrics

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Sure it′s poor I am today
For God gave and took away
And he left no home for poor ol' Dan O′hara
With these matches in me hand
In the frost and snow I stand
So it's here I am today so brokenhearted
Oh, a chusla geal mo chroi
Won't you buy a box from me

And you′ll have the prayers of Dan from Connemara
I′ll sell them cheap and low
Buy a box before you go

From the brokenhearted farmer Dan O'hara
In the year of ′64 I had acres by the score
The finest land you ever ran a plow through
But the landlord came, you know
And he laid the old home low
So it's here I am today so brokenhearted
Oh, a chusla geal mo chroi
Won′t you buy a box from me
And you'll have the prayers of Dan from Connemara
I′ll sell them cheap and low
Buy a box before you go
From the brokenhearted farmer Dan O'hara
Though in the frost and snow I stand
Sure the shadow of God's hand
Lies warm upon the brow of Dan O′hara
And soon with God above
I will meet the ones I love
And I′ll find the joys I had in Connemara
Oh, a chusla geal mo chroi
Won't you buy a box from me
And you′ll have the prayers of Dan from Connemara
I'll sell them cheap and low
Buy a box before you go
From the brokenhearted farmer Dan O′hara
Oh, a chusla geal mo chroi
Won't you buy a box from me
And you′ll have the prayers of Dan from Connemara
I'll sell them cheap and low

Buy a box before you go
From the brokenhearted farmer Dan O'hara

Overall Meaning

The Irish Rovers's song Dan O'Hara tells the story of a brokenhearted farmer named Dan O'Hara who has lost everything he had once possessed. He speaks bitterly about his situation, how he was once wealthy and had acres of land in the year of '64 but was left with nothing after the landlord took everything away. He stands with matches in his hand in the frost and snow with no home to go to. However, he tries to sell boxes of prayers to survive and have enough money to eat, requesting those who buy them to pray for him in order to one day find happiness again. Dan O'Hara still feels the warm shadow of God's hand on his forehead, gives thanks for the blessings in his life and has hope that he will reunite with his loved ones soon.

Dan O'HaraThe Irish Rovers Lyrics

Ian Burt

on Bluenose

Dan O'Hara
The Irish Rovers Lyrics