Robbie O'Connell

Robbie O'Connell
Robbie O'Connell at the Dublin Irish Fest (Ohio, 2006)
Background information
Birth name	Robert O'Connell
Born	1951 County Waterford, Ireland
Genres	Irish Folk, Contemporary
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals
Years active	1970s – present
Associated acts	The Clancy Brothers Moloney, O'Connell & Keane Green Fields of America Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy The Clancy Legacy
Website	www.robbieoconnell.com

Robbie O'Connell (b. 1951) is an Irish singer and songwriter most famous as a part of The Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell, as well as for his solo work.

Robbie O'Connell was born in 1951 in Waterford, County Waterford and grew up in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, where his parents had a small hotel. He spent a year touring folk clubs in England before enrolling at University College Dublin where he studied Literature and Philosophy.

He met and, a few years later, married Roxanne O'Connell (née Vigeant), from Marlboro Massachusetts, in 1974. From 1972 to 1976, they performed as a duo, and in the group The Munster Cloak, throughout the New England area, New York, Washington DC and Chicago. In 1976, the O'Connells moved to Ireland upon the death of Robbie's mother, Cáit (née Clancy) O'Connell to help run the family hotel. During this time, Robbie founded The Bread and Beer Band with childhood friends Tommy Keane, Paul Grant and Martin Murray.

A nephew of the Clancy Brothers, he began touring with Paddy, Tom, and Bobby Clancy in 1977, taking the place of Liam Clancy who was working with Tommy Makem as a part of Makem and Clancy. O'Connell sang, played guitar and, occasionally, mandolin. In 1979 he and his family moved to Franklin, Massachusetts.

Beginning in 1977, the Clancy Brothers and Robbie O'Connell toured three months each a year in March, August, and November in the United States. O'Connell, who had been a songwriter since his early teens, composed several songs the group sang regularly, such as "Bobby's Britches," "Ferrybank Piper," and "You're Not Irish." He also included songs written by others, such as "Dear Boss," "Sister Josephine," "There Were Roses," "John O'Dreams," and what is possibly his signature song, "Killkelly." Reviews cited O'Connell as a fresh addition to the group and with his original compositions, the future of the group.