Chief O`Neill

We perform lively toe tapping songs and favourites that have our audiences dancing. Traditional Irish is the main theme but Clan O’Neill benefits from having two lead singers and can cover genres such as Rock & Roll, and Pop! Patrick who studied at The Royal Academy of Music and who has performed with Andrea Bocelli, can even perform popular Italian Arias. We are an Irish band and only perform the odd classical and Rock and Roll songs but when we do, it brings the house down! We can of course perform more of these gems when required. Others types of music include Latin, Blue Grass, Eastern European Klezmer, Fado, American and old-fashioned Music Hall, and 20th-century Musicals.

Some time in the 1980’s, Ruairi came from Belfast and met Owen in London. Owen was looking for a mandolin or banjo player whom he could do some gigs with. So, this Dublin Catholic and Belfast Protestant got together with their instruments and had a session. They were joined by other members over the years. Ruairi has played since he was knee high to a grasshopper and is a virtuoso on several stringed instruments. Since then, the band has played mainly for weddings and also in pubs, clubs, anniversaries and birthday parties. Requests for bookings have sometimes come from unusual sources. For example, they once did a gig for a synagogue!

The band settled down to a threesome, Owen and Ruairi, being joined by Patrick who plays accordion and bodhrán in Clan O’Neill. Very sadly, Owen, our founder, died of cancer in January 2014. His legacy continues and, luckily, David, who is an accomplished traditional Irish singer and rhythm guitarist, came on board. He also has versatility and is capable of singing Rock & Roll and pop. This is very useful for clients who might like something a little different and want a couple of greats from the 50’s thrown in such as Jerry Lee Lewis or Elvis.