andy irvine
Ceann de na daoine is mó tionchar i gceol traidisiúnta na hÉireann sa nua-aois is ea Andy Irvine, agus tá gairmréim aige atá breis agus cúig scór bliain ar an fhód. Tá cáil air mar amhránaí, mar chumadóir agus mar cheoltóir den scoth ar an mhandailín, ar an bhasúcaí agus ar an hurdy-gurdy. Sheinn sé ar fud an domhain mar cheoltóir aonair agus mar bhall de ghrúpaí ceannródaíocha ar nós Sweeney’s Men, Planxty, Patrick Street agus Mozaik.
Tar éis dó tús a chur lena shaol camchuairte le Sweeney’s Men in 1965, d’fhág Andy an grúpa in 1968 chun taisteal go fairsing tríd an Bhulgáir, an Rómáin agus an Iúgslaiv, mar a bhí tráth. Thum sé é féin i dtraidisiúin shaibhre cheol na mBalcán agus chothaigh sé spéis ar feadh a shaoil i rithimí agus in amhráin Oirthear na hEorpa. Bhí tionchar mór ag na turais sin in oirthear na hEorpa ar a stíl cheoil agus thug sé an basúcaí isteach i gceol traidisiúnta na hÉireann don chéad uair — nuálaíocht a spreag glúnta ceoltóirí ina dhiaidh.
Ar fhilleadh ar Éirinn dó, bhunaigh sé Planxty in éineacht le Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny agus Liam O’Flynn. Bhain an grúpa stádas iomráiteach amach agus bhí ról lárnach acu in athbheochan an cheoil thraidisiúnta sna 1970idí. Le linn sos ón ghrúpa, thaifead sé an t-albam clasaice Andy Irvine & Paul Brady, a mheastar anois a bheith ina shaothar ceannródaíoch i gceol tíre na hÉireann.
Ina dhiaidh sin, chomhbhunaigh Andy Patrick Street — ar a dtugadh go minic an chéad “sárghrúpa” traidisiúnta in Éirinn. Ina dhiaidh sin, bhunaigh sé “grúpa a rogha”, Mozaik, ensemble idirnáisiúnta a chumaisc traidisiúin na hÉireann agus na mBalcán. Tá Andy Irvine fós ar camchuairt agus é ag comhoibriú i gcónaí le ceoltóirí eile. Is fórsa beo, paiseanta é agus é ina laoch lena linn féin i gceol na hÉireann.
Andy Irvine is one of the most influential figures in modern traditional Irish music, with a career spanning more than five decades. Renowned as a singer, songwriter and master of the mandolin, bouzouki and hurdy-gurdy, he has performed worldwide both as a solo artist and as a member of seminal groups including Sweeney’s Men, Planxty, Patrick Street and Mozaik.
After beginning his touring life with Sweeney’s Men in 1965, Irvine left the band in 1968 to travel extensively through Bulgaria, Romania and the former Yugoslavia. Immersing himself in the rich musical traditions of the Balkans, he developed a lifelong affinity with Eastern European rhythms and song. These travels profoundly shaped his sound and led to his pioneering adoption of the bouzouki in Irish traditional music, an innovation that would influence generations of musicians.
On returning to Ireland, he co-founded Planxty with Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny and Liam O’Flynn. The band achieved iconic status and played a pivotal role in revitalising traditional music in the 1970s. During a hiatus, Irvine recorded the classic album Andy Irvine & Paul Brady, now regarded as a landmark in Irish folk music.
He later co-founded Patrick Street—often described as Ireland’s first traditional “supergroup”—and went on to form his “dream band,” Mozaik, an international ensemble blending Irish and Balkan traditions. Still touring and collaborating widely, Andy Irvine remains a vital, passionate force and a living legend in Irish music.