On May 1, 1969, The Dubliners gave six-month's notice to their current management (Scott Solomon Management and The Dorothy Solomon Agency) and Major Minor that they wished to terminate their agreements with them. Considering their popularity at the time, Major Minor and the respective Solomons were none too pleased by the boys’ decision.

These breaks caused widespread speculation that the band was splitting up. However, the Dubliners were far, far from finished. The band embarked on tours of Canada, the US and Britain. In December 1969, they released the album At Home With The Dubliners. Several more albums followed, including Revolution, Hometown and Double Dubliners, all on the EMI label, with whom they’d signed after their split with Major Minor. In 1972, The Dubliners embarked on a series of very successful tours in Belgium, Scandinavia and Germany.

That same year Luke Kelly played the part of King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar. There he met Jim McCann for the first time who played the part of Peter. Later that year, the Dubliners appeared in Brendan Behan's play, Richard's Cork Leg, at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and at the Royal Court Theatre, London. According to Ronnie, “a fellow called Alan Simpson—he’s dead since you know—Allan had done Brendan Behan’s first play but this play Brendan never finished.

We were all there. Luke played “Cronin” and I played “the Hero”. Several actresses form the Abbey and some actors played in it too. Luke and I had a certain amount of experience of the stage. I had been in several plays when I was working with John Molloy. While I wouldn’t regard myself as a Laurence Olivier, I at least had some experience.” Unfortunately, it seems that Barney didn’t fair as well as Ronnie and Luke. “Barney didn’t have any experience as an actor,” according to Ronnie. “He really wasn’t able to deliver the lines, so Noel Pearson—he was our manager at the time and he was putting on the play—he hired this guy from Nigeria—a big very imposing guy and he played the part Barney was playing. To keep Barney in the play, Barney used follow him around saying, “Yes boss.” “That’s right, boss.” It wasn’t a great play but it was good fun. I really enjoyed it.”

The Dubliners were touring England during 1974, and on April 5, while they were appearing in Eastbourne, tragedy struck. Ciarán Bourke was having severe headaches and had to leave the stage. He was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage. He was then rushed to the Neurological Department of St. George's Hospital in London. Ciarán was determined to return to the group and rejoined them later in the year on the German tour. He should never have returned so quickly for during the tour he collapsed and had to be flown back to Dublin. This time he was left partially paralyzed and could no longer perform with the group. Ronnie and Ciarán had been particularly close and, in part because of these events, Ronnie chose to leave the group. “That year my children were growing up and I felt I was being away from home too long. We’d be away for a period of six weeks, then we’d be home for two and away for another six weeks.”