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The Irish Rovers | |
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 The Irish Rovers in 1968 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Rovers |
| Origin | Toronto, Canada |
| Genres | Irish, folk, folk rock |
| Years active | 1963–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | irishroversmusic |
The Irish Rovers is a group of Irish musicians that formed in Toronto, Canada in 1963[1] and named after the traditional song "The Irish Rover". They are best known for their international television series, contributing to the popularization of Irish Music in North America, and for the songs "The Unicorn", "Drunken Sailor", "Wasn't That a Party", "The Orange and the Green", "Whiskey on a Sunday", "Lily the Pink", "Finnegan's Wake" and "The Black Velvet Band".
The primary voices heard in the group's early songs were Will Millar (tenor), Jimmy Ferguson (baritone), George Millar and Joe Millar, and in the last twenty years, also John Reynolds and Ian Millar. Wilcil McDowell's accordion has been a signature sound of the band throughout their more than fifty five years.
Founding member George Millar and his cousin Ian are both from Ballymena, Davey Walker from Armagh, Sean O'Driscoll from Cork, Gerry O'Connor from Dundalk, percussionist Fred Graham from Belfast.[2] Flute and whistle player Geoffrey Kelly was born in Dumfries, Scotland.
In the 1980s, the group briefly renamed itself The Rovers. During this period, their song "Wasn't That a Party" led to crossover success in the country rock genre.
The Irish Rovers have represented Canada at five World Expos, and in 2018 were honoured as one of Ireland's greatest exports at Dublin, Ireland's EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.
In 2023, they celebrated their 60th Anniversary, and their song, "Hey Boys Sing Us A Song" was nominated for Single of the Year in the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
- ^ 'Irish Rovers are Digging out those old Folk songs', By Ballymena Weekly Editor, Ballymena Weekly Telegraph, N. Ireland – 20 August 1964
- ^ "Irish Rovers back home in Northern Ireland to make DVD". Belfast Telegraph, 2010. Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.