Sleeves Notes
My 30+ years of working with and for The Dubliners were an unique experience. We never had a contract. Everything was based on mutual trust and a handshake. Over the years we got to be friends and extended family, visiting each other for birthdays, weddings and funerals. It's hard to explain the secret behind their magic but despite lineup changes this group is a real phenomenon — musicians come and go but the musical formula stays powerful, pure and true.
2012 marked 50 years of The Dubliners, culminating in a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, followed by a magical night at the Royal Albert Hall in London — a night to remember.
Sadly, however, they subsequently suffered a body blow with the sudden tragic death of founding member "Banjo" Barney McKenna and at the end of 2012 it was decided to "retire" the name The Dubliners and so "THE DUBLIN LEGENDS" were born; Making such a move can be a risk; you never know whether it will work and whether the fans will accept the changes. We needn't have worried; The Dublin Legends continue the magic; their energy and stamina knows no bounds and will put many a teenage band to shame.
Eamonn Campbell, Seán Cannon, Patsy Watchorn and "new kid on the block" Gerry O'Connor continue the legacy of The Dubliners that started back in 1962. As Barney himself said "It's too late to stop now". Gerry has a great handle on the fiddle and also took over the banjo position; not an easy role but nobody could've done a better job filling Barney's, "larger than life" boots.
I'm glad we recorded the group's first shows in September 2013 at the Metropol in Vienna for a very happy and captive audience. The atmosphere was electric and the craic was ninety. Sit right back arid let the music speak for itself: Ladies and gentlemen — my boys, THE DUBLIN LEGENDS …
Milica Theessink