Formed in Newry, Co Down, Ireland


Benny McKay gives an insight of the early years

"In the early seventies I joined the folk
scene with Crubeen and found
a conduit for my interests in Irish music.
A three week tour of France in early '73
almost wrecked my liver and Irish-
French relations. In late October
we toured England with the legendary
Dominic Behan and discovered the
indigenous talent of the Behan family.
Toured Brittany in '74 where the French
customs confiscated a sizeable
collection of our LPs. '74 saw the
release of our LP 'Songs of the Irish
people' on our own Clanrye Label and
we followed that up with a single
featuring my peace poem 'My Home Town' and Dominic Behan's song
'Hope'. In '76 we released a LP called 'The Eagles Whistle'
and in '78 Tony McAuley produced our last LP simply entitled 'Crubeen'. "

Members of Crubeen
Benny McKay:
Eddie Ruddy:
Barney Gribben:
Tommy Hollywood:
Paddy Clerkin:
John Waterson:
Billy Fegan: