In March 2006, fifty years after the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem recorded their debut album, The Rising of the Moon in March 1956, the first full-length biography on the Clancy Brothers was written and published by Conor Murray. The book, titled The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem & Robbie O'Connell: The Men Behind the Sweaters chronicles the Clancy Brothers from the birth of Paddy Clancy in 1922 to early 2006. Simultaneously a two hour documentary on Liam Clancy was aired on Irish television, The Legend of Liam Clancy, as was a new TV concert special from Tommy Makem and his sons, the five-piece Irish folk song group The Makem & Spain Brothers.
Through 2005 to the present Liam has been joined once again by Kevin Evans of Evans and Doherty, both onstage and in the studio. Paul Grant and Kevin play nightly with Liam who continues to record, write and perform worldwide. His latest CD, "Yes, Those Were the Days," was a top selling record in late 2006. A full length feature film of his life is slated to begin filming this year culminating with a filmed concert in New York City. Liam will be appearing with Paul, Kevin, Danú and Karan Casey at the Tonder Festival in Denmark in August 2007.
In August 2007 Tommy Makem died after an extended fight with cancer, leaving Liam the only surviving member of the original group.
Liam Clancy died from pulmonary fibrosis on 4 December 2009, in Bon Secours Hospital in Cork, Ireland. Bobby Clancy died of the same disease seven years previously and is buried in the new cemetery in Ring, Co. Waterford, where he spent the last number of years of his life, owning a successful recording studio. Clancy was survived by his wife, Kim, and their four children, Eben, Siobhán, Fiona and Donal, as well three previous children Sean, Andrew and Anya. His son Eben was in the process of coming over from the United Kingdom and he had had a chat with his son Donal who was in the middle of a tour of California. The other three sat beside him as he died. Liam had intended to give another interview at the time but succumbed to the disease before this was possible.
The American city of Boston was said to be in shock at the news as his influence there is "inescapable". Radio disc jockeys in New York paid tribute to the man who, according to the New York Daily News, "played a major role in defining how Americans heard Irish popular music over the last half century", with one DJ saying The Clancy Brothers had "broke down a wall that was long overdue". Christy Moore, on a prescheduled appearance on The Late Late Show aired live on the night of Liam's death, said, "I would have been listening to Radio Luxembourg and rock 'n' roll as a young fellow and then I got to hear of the Clancy brothers, when I was 16 I came to Dublin to hear them in a concert. It was about 1962, I think it was the Olympia, it was the most exciting concert I had ever attended. It was Irish, it was rock 'n' roll, it was funky and it was even sexy".
Clancy's lunchtime funeral at St Mary's Church in Dungarvan on 7 December was attended by hundreds of mourners, including both the Aides de Camp of the Taoiseach and President of Ireland, Minister Cullen and various musicians and artists. He was later buried in Ring.
O'donnell Abu
Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Loudly the war cries arise on the gale
Fleetly the steed by Lough Swilly is bounding
To join the thick squadrons on Saimer's green vale
On, every mountaineer, strangers to flight of fear
Rush to the standard of dauntless Red Hugh
Bonnaught and Gallowglass, throng from each mountain pass
Onward for Erin, O'Donnell Abú!
Princely O'Neill to our aid is advancing
With many a chieftain and warrior clan
A thousand proud steeds in his vanguard are prancing
'Neath the borders brave from the banks of the Bann
Many a heart shall quail under its coat of mail
Deeply the merciless foeman shall rue
When on his ear shall ring, borne on the breeze's wing
Tyrconnell's dread war-cry: "O'Donnell Abú!"
Wily old Desmond the war wolf is howling
Fearless the eagle sweeps over the plain
The fox in the streets of the city is prowling
And all who would scare them are banished or slain
On with O'Donnell then, fight the old fight again
Sons of Tyrconnell, are valiant and true
Make the proud Saxon feel Erin's avenging steel
Strike for your country, O'Donnell Abú!
The above lyrics are from the song "O'Donnell Abu" by Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy, and they convey a sense of pride and patriotism towards the Irish rebellion against English rule. The lyrics speak of the trumpet's notes sounding proudly, the war cries loudly rising, and the steeds bounding fleetly towards Saimer's green vale to join the thick squadrons in battle. The song urges every mountaineer, stranger to flight of fear, to rush to Red Hugh's standard, and for Bonnaught and Gallowglass to throng from each mountain pass, all onwards for Erin, O'Donnell Abú!
The song also speaks of how the Princely O'Neill is advancing to aid the cause, with his vanguard of a thousand proud steeds prancing beneath the borders brave from the banks of the Bann. Many a heart shall quail under its coat of mail, and O'Neill’s mercyless foeman shall rue when on his ear shall ring, borne on the breeze's wing, Tyrconnell's dread war-cry: "O'Donnell Abú!" The old war wolf, Desmond, prowls the streets, and anyone who tries to scare them is banished or slain. The song urges the sons of Tyrconnell to fight the old fight again, and make the proud Saxon feel Erin's avenging steel, all striking for your country, O'Donnell Abú!
Line by Line Meaning
Proudly the note of the trumpet is sounding
The trumpet is being sounded with pride.
Loudly the war cries arise on the gale
The war cries can be heard loudly on the wind.
Fleetly the steed by Lough Swilly is bounding
A horse is bounding quickly near Lough Swilly.
To join the thick squadrons on Saimer's green vale
The horse is headed to join the dense military groups on Saimer's green valley.
On, every mountaineer, strangers to flight of fear
All Mountaineers that do not know how to run away from fear should gather
Rush to the standard of dauntless Red Hugh
They should hurry to join the undaunted Red Hugh.
Bonnaught and Gallowglass, throng from each mountain pass
Soldiers from every mountain path gather.
Onward for Erin, O'Donnell Abú!
They should keep going towards Erin and shout O'Donnell Abú!
Princely O'Neill to our aid is advancing
Prince O'Neill is coming to our aid.
With many a chieftain and warrior clan
Several chiefs and warrior clans are accompanying him.
A thousand proud steeds in his vanguard are prancing
A thousand proud horses are marching ahead of him.
'Neath the borders brave from the banks of the Bann
The horses are marching beneath the brave borders near the banks of the Bann.
Many a heart shall quail under its coat of mail
Many people will become afraid despite their armor.
Deeply the merciless foeman shall rue
The merciless enemy will deeply regret their actions.
When on his ear shall ring, borne on the breeze's wing
When the wind carries the sound to his ears.
Tyrconnell's dread war-cry: "O'Donnell Abú!"
The fearful battle-cry of "O'Donnell Abú!" from Tyrconnell will be heard.
Wily old Desmond the war wolf is howling
A cunning Desmond is howling like a war wolf.
Fearless the eagle sweeps over the plain
The eagle sweeps across the plain without fear.
The fox in the streets of the city is prowling
A fox is prowling the city streets.
And all who would scare them are banished or slain
Anyone who tries to scare them is either driven out or killed.
On with O'Donnell then, fight the old fight again
Continue to fight with O'Donnell, like the good old days.
Sons of Tyrconnell, are valiant and true
The Sons of Tyrconnell are brave and honorable
Make the proud Saxon feel Erin's avenging steel
Make the proud Saxons feel the wrath of Erin's revengeful weapons.
Strike for your country, O'Donnell Abú!
Fight for your country with the battle-cry of "O'Donnell Abú!".
Contributed by Sarah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mooremiket
Thirty years ago, I took a bunch of my dad’s Irish Records, and put my favorite songs together on a mixtape. A bunch from this album made it, along with plenty of other.
But this. This song. This exact version.
This is the opening track. This is what I chose to start the entire tape off with when I was in 8th grade.
Thank you for this. Perfection.
Michael Palmieri
I used to have a record album called "Irish Songs Of Rebellion" with Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers, and it had this song on it. The only difference was that the solo instrument was not a drum, but a harmonica.
KittyStarlight
That is indeed interesting.
KittyStarlight
I haven't heard harmonica with that song before. 🤔
Sounds like it would sound very interesting. 🎵🎶🎵
I need to look for that album on CD sometime. 🎧
Nokomarie
Whenever I hear this, I remember dutifully lending my voice to pipe along with my brothers singing the family song. It was never triumphant but brave and sad, sad for a lost cause and not just for those who left never to return home again but also for those who did. One hell of a protest song.
Julie Reilly
Great song. Learnt this at a very young age.
Jim Craney
When I hear this, I always remember Da teaching it to me as a kid. Maith an fhear thu, a Athair.
Denis daly
The Ultimate War Chant 💚💚💚
catherine yronwode
This takes me back to my youth... Pete Seeger singing "All through the atmosphere, what is that song we hear? Our country's anthem from this motley crew."" in a song about the "Beatnik Riot" of Washington Square.
It's just myself, so it is.
This was almost the Irish anthem but the 'Soldiers Song' was picked instead.