Tunes and Tales of Ireland

AMG Review of Tunes and Tales of Ireland

Matt Fink
All Music Guide

The Clancy Brothers were always at their most spirited in a live context, and Tunes and Tales of Ireland is a fine example of their rambunctious performances. Though not their most quintessential lineup, with Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem having been replaced by Bobby Clancy and Robbie O'Connell, the set is nonetheless first rate, complete with colorful pre-song banter. Split between well-known standards and more obscure tunes, such as the beautiful "Sweet Thames Flow Softly" and the sing-along "Off to Philadelphia," this set is a perfect snapshot of one of the last great Clancy lineups, as Tommy and Paddy Clancy would pass on a few years later.