'Galway Joe' Dolan
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Galway Joe" Dolan (1942 – 7 January 2008, Galway City) was an Irish
musician
, song-writer and artist
. Known as "Galway Joe" to distinguish him from Joe Dolan
of Mullingar
, he was born in Galway
, County Galway
, Ireland
.
Dolan was an arts student in Dublin before becoming involved in the Irish showband
s of the 1960s, playing with The Capitol Showband and The Swingtime Aces.
He is best known as one of the three founding members, together with Andy Irvine
and Johnny Moynihan
, of the highly influential folk
group Sweeney's Men
, which was formed in Galway in May 1966; Dolan also chose the group's name. Sweeney's Men invigorated the Irish folk scene, and had an unexpected Irish top 10 hit with Old Maid in the Garret in 1967.
He quit the band with the intention of travelling to Israel
, to take part in the Six-Day War
. For many years afterwards he was presumed to have been killed in the fighting, but in fact never reached Israel at all; it was joked that Dolan had arrived on the seventh day. He then went on an archaeological expedition to the Negev desert. He wrote "The Trip to Jerusalem" (recorded by Christy Moore
in 2002 on The Iron Behind the Velvet) about his trip.
Dolan subsequently dropped professional music in favour of painting, but continued to compose robust, bitter-sweet songs, and would pass on tapes to anyone who was interested; he also continued to play in impromptu sessions.
Dolan died of cancer in January 2008, survived by his son Andy and sister Chris. His autobiography, Lost Miles and Broken Strings, has not yet been published.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, song-writer and artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
. Known as "Galway Joe" to distinguish him from Joe Dolan
Joe Dolan
Joseph "Joe" Francis Robert Dolan was an Irish entertainer, recorder and singer of easy listening songs...
of Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
, he was born in Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
Dolan was an arts student in Dublin before becoming involved in the Irish showband
Irish showband
The Irish Showband was a dance band format which was popular in Ireland during the early rock and roll era from mid 1950s to the late 1970s. The showband was based on the internationally popular six or seven piece dance band. The band's basic repertoire included standard dance numbers and cover...
s of the 1960s, playing with The Capitol Showband and The Swingtime Aces.
He is best known as one of the three founding members, together with Andy Irvine
Andy Irvine (musician)
Andrew Kennedy 'Andy' Irvine is a folk musician, singer, and songwriter, and a founding member of the popular band Planxty. He is an accomplished player of the mandolin, bouzouki, mandola, guitar-bouzouki, harmonica and hurdy-gurdy....
and Johnny Moynihan
Johnny Moynihan
John "Johnny" Moynihan , is a folk singer based in Dublin, Ireland. He is often credited as being responsible for introducing the bouzouki and the Irish bouzouki into Irish music in the mid 1960s. Known as "The Bard of Dalymount", as a young man he played in the band Sweeney's Men with Andy Irvine,...
, of the highly influential folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
group Sweeney's Men
Sweeney's Men
Sweeney's Men was an Irish traditional band. They emerged from the late 1960s Irish roots revival, along with groups such as The Dubliners and the Clancy Brothers. The founding line-up in May 1966 was 'Galway Joe' Dolan, Johnny Moynihan and Andy Irvine....
, which was formed in Galway in May 1966; Dolan also chose the group's name. Sweeney's Men invigorated the Irish folk scene, and had an unexpected Irish top 10 hit with Old Maid in the Garret in 1967.
He quit the band with the intention of travelling to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, to take part in the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
. For many years afterwards he was presumed to have been killed in the fighting, but in fact never reached Israel at all; it was joked that Dolan had arrived on the seventh day. He then went on an archaeological expedition to the Negev desert. He wrote "The Trip to Jerusalem" (recorded by Christy Moore
Christy Moore
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts...
in 2002 on The Iron Behind the Velvet) about his trip.
Dolan subsequently dropped professional music in favour of painting, but continued to compose robust, bitter-sweet songs, and would pass on tapes to anyone who was interested; he also continued to play in impromptu sessions.
Dolan died of cancer in January 2008, survived by his son Andy and sister Chris. His autobiography, Lost Miles and Broken Strings, has not yet been published.
External links
- http://www.irish-showbands.com/inmemory.htm
- http://www.irish-showbands.com/images/folk/sweeneysmen-67.htm
- http://www.irish-showbands.com/Bands/capitolf.htm
- http://www.colin-harper.com/page12/page7/index.html