The Chieftains

The Chieftains are an Irish folk band formed in Dublin in 1962 by Paddy Moloney, who led the group on uilleann pipes and tin whistle until his death in 2021. Alongside Moloney, longtime members Matt Molloy on flute, Seán Keane on fiddle, and Kevin Conneff on bodhrán helped define the group's instrumental, traditional-first sound rooted in Irish reels, jigs, airs, and laments. Emerging from the Irish folk revival, The Chieftains were instrumental in bringing traditional Irish music to international concert halls and film scores.

Over six decades the band released dozens of albums and became known for extensive collaborations across genres, working with artists such as Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Sinéad O'Connor, and many others on projects blending Celtic music with rock, country, and world traditions. Their soundtrack work, including Stanley Kubrick's «Barry Lyndon», brought their music to wider audiences, while albums exploring shared roots between Irish and American folk traditions, including collaborations with Nashville musicians, underscored the deep kinship between Irish and Appalachian music.

The Chieftains won multiple Grammy Awards and were recognized as Ireland's musical ambassadors, performing for popes, presidents, and royalty. Their repertoire draws on centuries-old Irish airs alongside original compositions, and songs like «The Foggy Dew» and «Raggle Taggle Gypsy» reflect their commitment to preserving and popularizing traditional Irish balladry and dance music for global audiences.