Tommy Byrne
Born and reared in the Liberties to the 40s/50s, and the eldest of 11 children
l
bought my flrrl guitar in 1962 and taught myself to play
Myearl influences were Joan Biaz and the Cluney Brothers
who
were making it big in the US at the time; and I fell in love
with folk music Irish And American. By 1966 there were at
least 800
ballad groups. and the folk boom had really taken hold,
I began performing in the various folk clubs in
Dublin and it the
fleadhs around the country Fry, It was at a fleadh in Elphin,
Co. Roscommon, on Easter weekend,
1964 that I first met Brian Warfield
and Noel Nagle, who were members of a ballad group called the Wolfe Tones,
We
played and sang together all weekend and within the year
I had left my job in the Guinness brewery and joined the band
full time
and thank God I have never looked back!
Since then we have preformed the world a few times over, and in
some of the most prestigious venues around the
world including
Carnegie Hall, New York, The Royal Albert London. and I must mention
The Apollo,
Glasgow, the most memorably gig of my life
We have played about 40 states in the US,
Australia, and all over the
UK and Ireland and played alongside artistes
like John Denver,: Kris Kristofferson, Glen Campbell, Joan Biaz
and Status
Quo,
On a personal note, I married my wife, Kate, 34 years ago, we have two children
Thomas and Emma and one
grandchild, "Vivienne' whom, I adore,
and we have another one on the way. These days I have slowed down
a little
from the hectic days of the tins, 705, 8Os and 90s, I now enjoy golfing.
walking and gardening with my wile,
I am an avid sports fan, particularly
hurling (the best game in the world), ontd I most admit it enjoying a
few
pints down the local with friend. For the future, I hope to continue
playing, turning and recording for at least few years
