Patrick Street

by Craig HarrisPatrick Street is comprised of some of Irelands most accomplished musicians. Formed in Dublin in 1986, the current group includes fiddler Kevin Burke (the Bothy Band), bouzouki player and vocalist Andy Irvine (Sweeneys Men, Planxty), button accordionist Jackie Daly (DeDanaan) and guitarist Ged Foley (the Battlefield Band, The House Band). Previous members include guitarists Arty McGlynn (Van Morrison, Planxty) and Gerry OBeirne and Uillean pipe and keyboard player Declan Masterson. Patrick Streets self-titled debut album was produced by multi-instrumentalist Donal Lunny (Planxty, the Bothy Band, Moving Hearts). Burke, Irvine, Daly and OBeirne first came together to tour the United States as Legends Of Irish Music. The enthusiastic reception that they received encouraged them to make the band more permanent. Taking the name Patrick Street, the four musicians recorded four albums and toured the United States five times between 1987 and 1993. In the Fall of 1994, OBeirne was replaced by Foley and Patrick Street joined with French Canadian band, La Boutine Sorriente, for a tour of New England. While much of Patrick Streets repertoire is traditional Irish music, the group has recorded original tunes by Irvine, Daly and OBeirne, as well as tunes by Si Kahn, Woody Guthrie, Andy Mitchell, Dave Richardson and Colum Sands. The core quartet of Patrick Street has been augmented by additional musicians on several albums. Donal Lunny played keyboard and bodhran on the groups first album. Enda Walsh played keyboards on their second effort, No. 2 Patrick Street. Patrick Streets third album, 3 Irish Times 3, featured the groups largest arrangements with the addition of Declan Masterson (Uillean pipes, low whistle, keyboards) and Bill Whelan (keyboards). The producer of Patrick Streets 1993 recording, All In Good Time, Whelan played keyboards and sang background vocals on the album.