In an irresistible tale of a life lived fully, if not always wisely, Liam Clancy, of the legendary Irish group the Clancy Brothers, describes his eventful journey from a small town in Ireland in the 1930s into the heart of the New York music scene in the 1950s and '60s. Following in the grand tradition of such Irish memoirs as Angela's Ashes and Are You Somebody? , Liam Clancy relates his life's story in a raucously funny and star-studded account of moving from provincial Ireland to the bars and clubs of New York City, ...
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In an irresistible tale of a life lived fully, if not always wisely, Liam Clancy, of the legendary Irish group the Clancy Brothers, describes his eventful journey from a small town in Ireland in the 1930s into the heart of the New York music scene in the 1950s and '60s. Following in the grand tradition of such Irish memoirs as Angela's Ashes and Are You Somebody? , Liam Clancy relates his life's story in a raucously funny and star-studded account of moving from provincial Ireland to the bars and clubs of New York City, to the cusp of fame as a member of Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers. Born in 1935, the eleventh out of as many children, young Liam was a naive and innocent lad of the Old Country. His memories of childhood include bounding over hills, streams, and the occasional mountain, getting lost, and eventually found, and making mischief in the way of a typical Irish boy. As an aimless nineteen-year-old, Clancy met a strange and wonderfully energetic lover of music, Ms. Diane Guggenheim, an American heiress. She and a colleague from America had set out to record regional Irish folk music, and their undertaking led them to Carrick-on-Suir in the shadow of Slievenamon, "The Mountain of the Women," where Mammie Clancy had been known to carry a tune or two in her kitchen. Guggenheim fell for young Liam and swept him along on her travels through the British Isles, the American Appalachians, and finally Greenwich Village, the undisputed Mecca for aspiring artists of every ilk in the late 1950s. Clancy was in New York to become an actor. But on the side, he played and sang with his brothers, Paddy and Tom, and fellow countryman Tommy Makem, in pubs like the legendary White Horse Tavern. In the heady atmosphere of the Village, Clancy's life was a party filled with music, sex, and McSorley's. His friendships with then-unknown artists such as Bob Dylan, Maya Angelou, Robert Redford, Lenny Bruce, Pete Seeger and Barbra Streisand form the backdrop of the charming adventures of a small-town boy making it big in the biggest of cities. In music circles, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem are known as the Beatles of Irish music. The band's music continues to play on jukeboxes in pubs and bars, in living rooms of folk music fans, and in Irish American homes throughout the country. Liam Clancy's lively memoir captures their wild adventures on the road to fame and fortune, and brings to life a man who never lets himself off the hook for his sins, and happily views his success as a blessing.
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Add this copy of The Mountain of the Women: Memoirs of an Irish to cart. $1.16, good condition, Sold by Goodwill of Greater Milwaukee rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milwaukee, WI, UNITED STATES, published 2002 by Crown.
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Good. The cover has visible markings and wear. The pages show normal wear and tear. There is writing discoloration or markings on the edges of the pages. Codes or product keys that accompany this product may not be valid. Fast Shipping in a Standard Poly Mailer!
Add this copy of The Mountain of the Women: Memoirs of an Irish to cart. $1.75, very good condition, Sold by The Maryland Book Bank rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from baltimore, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2002 by Crown Publishing Group (NY).
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Very Good. Very Good condition. Good dust jacket. In protective mylar cover. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp.
I've known of and followed Liam Clancy, his brothers and Tommy Makem since those heady days of the folk boom in the late 1950's and early 60's. They were my first exposure to Irish Music and culture and after several trips to Ireland and years of playing traditional Irish tunes, well, Ireland its culture and music still fascinates me as much as it ever has. Liam's book is a brilliant read, recounting an Ireland that has largely disappeared. The last chapter had me laughing uncontrollably, it's one of the best pieces of humorous prose I've ever read. The less developed and poorer west of Ireland still has pockets of traditional culture, with lovely villages and small pubs inhabited with some brilliant characters. It's that side of Ireland, that you won't easily find in Dublin or any of the large cities, that can be both charming and seductive. It's all well illustrated in Liam's book, along with some incisive observations about the wild ride they took as part of the folk boom, the fame, the famous they rubbed shoulders with and the fortunes and pitfalls that came with all the notoriety. I've purchased several copies of this book to share with my bandmates and friends. If you've any interest in Ireland it's music and culture then you'll find this a fascinating read.
storyvillepainter
Feb 4, 2010
Irish Soul and Poet
I was surprised to find that Liam Clancy was as gifted in the art of writing as he was in music. His remembrances of the White Horse days of the early 60's, during the folk music era, were of particular interest to me. I was there, and I knew him at that time. The way he told it was exactly the way it was. He had a truly amazing life and told his story eloquently.
