The Dublin City Ramblers started life in the mid 60's as the Jolly Tinkers, but due to the abundance of ballad groups
with same name, they decided to change their name to the Quare Fellas. At this time, the line up consisted of Patsy Watchorn,
brothers Sean and Matt McGuiness and Pat Cummins. While the group recorded the two albums At Home and A Fond Tale on the CBS
label, they considered themselves part-time musicians. Pat Cummins left the band sometime between the first and second CBS
album and was replaced by Brendan Leeson.
In 1970, the Quare Fellas disbanded and "The Dublin City Ramblers" were formed,
with Patsy Watchorn, Sean McGuiness, Mick Crotty and Kevin Gerahty. This line up lasted until approximately 1977.
When
both Mick Crotty and Kevin Gerahty left the group, and Philip Caffery—fiddle, and Kevin Molloy—guitar and vocals,
joined. This was to be the group's most prolific line up (releasing some 7 albums), and also (arguably) the band's most successful
period. Between 1980-1987, the Ramblers scored most of their hits, beginning "The Rare Ould Times" through "Flight Of Earls".
In 1989, both Philip Caffery and Kevin Molloy left and Paddy Sweeney (formerly of the Barleycorn) stepped in and one album
resulted, Home and Away.
Shay Kavanagh joined in 1992 and this line up released Recorded Live at Johnny Fox's Pub
and The Craic and Porter Black, the latter being one of their better albums—a very pleasant excursion through some of
the best known Irish pub songs.
Unfortunately, The Craic and the Porter Black was to be Patsy Watchorn's swan song, as he left to pursue a solo career.
Sean, Paddy and Shay continued to maintain a heavy touring schedule at home and in the U.S., and released two albums,
Raise The Roof and On Holy Ground. In 2002 both Paddy Sweeney and Shay Kavanagh left the group and were replaced by Pierce
Mcallorum and keyboard player, Eddie Lynch. 2005 saw yet another change in the Ramblers line up as both Pierce Mcallorum and
Eddie Lynch left and Stephen Leeson and Freddie O'Connor joined. Pearce now playes with Raglan Road , and Patsy is with The
Dubliners.
At the height of their career The Dublin City Ramblers were one of the most successful ballad groups in Ireland along
with The Wolfe Tones and The Dubliners. The Ramblers still preform today but not much in Ireland as they are based in Spain
and do the odd gig in America for the folk festivals.
