John & Tim Lyons

John Lyons was born on 31st October 1933. Tim was born on 8th December 1937. Both were born in Turner's Cross, a suburb of Cork City. Their grandfather (whom they never knew), was a stone-mason living in Mulcarthy's Bridge, near Banteer, Co. Cork. He was a member of the Irish Land League, a political organisation which sought to help poor tenant farmers. Their father, also called Tim, was fourteen years old when the family were evicted from their home. He eventually ran away and joined the British Navy. On leaving the Navy, he met and married a Cork woman called Kathleen Buckley and the family eventually moved to Wolverhampton in the 1950s..

After spending their lives criss-crossing the Irish sea for work, singing and music have been, and are still a very important part of what these two remarkable brothers do. They have now settled back home and John’s children are continuing their musical tradition. Yet amazingly, apart from playing in so many sessions together, John and Tim have rarely shared a stage. John and Tim are rightly considered two of Ireland’s finest traditional singers.

Tracks

1. The Limerick Rake 4.16
2. After Aughrim 5.10
3. Anach Cuain 4.22
4. Con Cassidy's /MulQueeny's (slides) 2.33
5. Goodbye (O Máire Bán) 3.13
6. Killnamartyra Exile 6.29
7. The Bold Tenant Farmer 3.35
8. The Honeymoon /Humours of Tulla (reels) 2.20
9. The May Morning Dew 2.58
10. Droighnean Donn 6.15
11. Crossroads Ceili /McGonigal's (barndances) 2.19
12. Lie Like A Frog 3.20
13. The Green Linnet 7.37
14. The Knocknaboul Polkas 2.58
15. Bold Thady Quill 3.19

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