Brian Gaffney
Brian Gaffney was born in Tralee, County Kerry. Youngest of 4 kids, Brian didn't take long to pick up a love of music from his older brothers.
By age 13, Brian was playing in pubs around Kerry with accordion player Kevin Cronin. They formed a band in Christian Brothers School and won the all Ireland "Slogadh" in 1974.
Brian played all kinds of music, to include traditional Irish music and rock 'n roll and found his nitch as a solo performer.
During the late 70's, Brian was the resident Saturday night opener at Horan's Hotel in Tralee where he stayed for 5 years. Playing at Horan's gave Brian an opportunity to play with renowned Irish groups such as The Furey's, Moving Hearts and the Dubliners, just to name a few.
Brian continued to play all over Ireland until 1985 when he immigrated to America. Brian's first port of call was Boston, Mass. where he was immediately snatched up to fill in with the band "Dublin Sound" with Dessie Higgins and Sean Garvey. In 1986, Brian partnered up with Alan Loughnane and toured all over America with the group "Claddagh" for 3 1/2 years.
Brian then joined Fergus Kennedy in the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia areas in the band "Brendan's Voyage". They toured all over America as well and released 2 very successful albums "In Full Sail" and "Close to the Wind".
Brian married Kathleen Lyons in 1991 and they became proud parents of Kelly Gaffney in 1992. Kathleen is the daughter of Gerry and Willie Lyons of Dungarvan, County Waterford and in 1993, they put their heads together and opened Nanny O'Brien's Irish Pub in Washington, DC.
Since Nanny O'Brien's opened in 1993, it has given Brian an opportunity to pursue his passion by playing traditional music. Brian teamed up with all star fiddle player, Brendan Mulvihill with whom he performs every Wednesday night at Nanny O'Brien's. Brian has also had the opportunity to play with such traditional greats as: Paddy Keenan, Billy McComiskey, James Kelly, in concert and others during is weekly Monday night fireside seisun's such as: Eileen Ivers, Matt Molloy (Chieftains) and many others.
Having ran and performed at Nanny O'Brien's Irish Pub in Washington, DC for the last 14 years, the Lyons and Gaffney families sold Nanny's in January 2007. Brian is now focused on his music career, primarily as a solo artist, but he still features with Brendan Mulvihill, Patsy Whela, Brendan's Voyage and anyone else who may cross his path!
Finbar Furey and Brian Gaffney 2009 Tour Pics
Washington Examiner Article 12/27/2009
Brian Gaffney's Schedule 2011
Updated 3/31/2012
| Dec 26-30 | Dubliner Pub, Washington, DC |
| Dec 31 with Brendan's Voyage | Dubliner Pub, Washington, DC |
| Jan 1 | Dubliner Pub, Washington, DC |
| Jan 2 | O'Connell's, Old Town, Alexandria with Brendan Mulvihill (sessiun) |
| Jan 4 | Nanny O'Briens, Washington, DC |
| Jan 5-7 | Irish Channel, Crofton, MD |
| Jan 9 | O'Connell's, Old Town, Alexandria with Brendan Mulvihill (sessiun) |
| Jan 10-14 | Irish Channel, Washington, DC |
| Jan 16 | O'Connell's, Old Town, Alexandria with Brendan Mulvihill (sessiun) |
| Jan 19 | P Brennan's, Arlington, VA |
| Jan 20-21 | Ireland's Four Provinces, Falls Church, VA |
| Jan 22-28 | Dubliner Pub, Washington, DC |
| Jan 30 | O'Connell's, Old Town, Alexandria with Brendan Mulvihill (sessiun) |
| Feb 1 | Nanny O'Briens, Washington, DC |
| Feb 3-5 | The Auld Shebeen, FAirfax, VA |
| Feb 9-11 | Irish Channel, Crofton, MD |
| Feb 12 | Ri Ra, Berthesda, MD |
| Feb 14-18 | Irish Channel, Washington, DC |
| Feb 19-25 | Dubliner Pub, Washington, DC |
| March 1-3 | Irish Channel, Crofton, MD |
| March 8-10 | Murphy's Pub, Washington, DC |
| March 11-17 | Irish Channel, Washington, DC |
| March 21 | Nanny O'Briens, Washington, DC |
| March 23-25 | The Auld Shebeen, Fairfax, VA |
| March 26-31 | Dubliner Pub, Washington, DC |
| April 2 | O'Connell's with Brendan Mulvihill, Old Town, Alex, VA (sessiun) |
| April 4 | Nanny O'Briens, Washington, DC |
| April 5-7 | Irish Channel, Crofton, MD |
| April 9 | O'Connell's with Brendan Mulvihill, Old Town, Alex, VA (sessiun) |
| April 10-14 | Irish Channel, Washington, DC |
| Ireland Tour with Brendan's Voyage | |
| April 18 | Greyhound Bar, Tralee |
| April 19-20 | Monroe's, Galway |
| April 21 | Raffs on the Corner, Skerries, Co. Dublin |
| April 22 | Round Towers, GAA Club, Clondalkin, Dublin 4pm |
| Return from Ireland | |
| April 29-May 5 | Dubliner Pub, Washington, DC |
| May 7 | O'Connell's with Brendan Mulvihill, Old Town, Alex, VA (sessiun) |
| May 9 | Nanny O'Briens, Washington, DC |
| May 10-12 | Irish Channel, Crofton, MD |
| May 14 | O'Connell's with Brendan Mulvihill, Old Town, Alex, VA (sessiun) |
| May 13-19 | Irish Channel, Washington, DC |
| May 21 | O'Connell's with Brendan Mulvihill, Old Town, Alex, VA (sessiun) |
| May 23 | P Brennans, Arlington, Va |
| May 24-26 | Fouir Provinces, Falls Church |
| May 28 | O'Connell's with Brendan Mulvihill, Old Town, Alex, VA (sessiun) |
| May 31-June 2 | Murphys DC |
| June 3-9 | Dubliner Pub, Washington, DC |
| June 11 | O'Connell's with Brendan Mulvihill, Old Town, Alex, VA (sessiun) |
| June 12-16 | Irish Channel, Washington, DC |
| June 18 | O'Connell's with Brendan Mulvihill, Old Town, Alex, VA (sessiun) |
| June 20 | Nanny O'Briens, Washington, DC |
| June 21-23 | Irish Channel, Crofton, MD |
| June 25 | O'Connell's with Brendan Mulvihill, Old Town, Alex, VA (sessiun) |
| June 27 | P Brennans, Arlington, VA |
| June 30 | Ocean City, MD, Private Function, Special Care |
| Dec 26-31 | Dubliner Pub, Washington, DC |
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"Close to the Wind" 1. Back Home in Derry 2. School Days Over 3. Ballad of St. Anne's Reel 4. When Margaret was Eleven 5. Brendan's Voyage 6. Star of the County Down 7. Black Velvet Band 8. Close to the Wind 9. Not the Reason I Left Mullingar 10. Rosemary's Sister 11. Jug of Punch
CD's $15 plus $3 shipping and handling. Contact gaff@comcast.net |
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"We'll Be Right Back" Ramblin Rover; Donnybrook Fair; Matty; If I Had a Boat; Nancy Spain; Jigs; I Will; Dirty Old Town; Rose of Aranmore; Old Home Place; Friend of the Devil; Rights of Man/Japanese Horn Pipes/Moving Cloud1
CD's $15 plus $3 shipping and handling. Contact gaff@comcast.net |
Bookings Contact :
Brian Gaffney at gaff@comcast.net
© 2012 IrishUSA
Page design, text, and graphics copyright 2001 by Patty Simpson
Copying, replicating, and mirroring prohibited.
Author: Patty Simpson Email: <musiclinkco@msn.com>
Last Updated: 3/31/2012
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| Finbar Furey and Brian Gaffney on Tour 2009 |
