The Chieftains
The Chieftains were an iconic Irish traditional music group formed in Dublin in 1962 by uilleann piper Paddy Moloney, who led the group until his passing in 2021. Renowned for bringing traditional Irish music to a global audience, The Chieftains became cultural ambassadors for Ireland and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, across genres—from The Rolling Stones to Sting, Van Morrison, Luciano Pavarotti, and Ricky Skaggs.
The Chieftains were instrumental (literally and figuratively) in transforming how Irish folk music was perceived around the world. Their arrangements featured classic instruments like the bodhrán, tin whistle, harp, fiddle, and uilleann pipes, while blending in orchestral and global influences over time.
They released dozens of albums, including:
The Chieftains 1–10 series (1960s–70s)
The Long Black Veil (1995) — featuring collaborations with Mick Jagger, Sinead O'Connor, and others
Santiago (1996) — a Grammy-winning tribute to Galician and Latin music
Down the Old Plank Road (2002) — exploring the connections between Irish and American roots music
Their genre-crossing collaborations helped them win six Grammy Awards, an Oscar for their work on Barry Lyndon (1975), and performances at iconic events including Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ireland and The Great Wall of China.
The Chieftains performed in Canada numerous times, including multiple appearances at Centre In The Square in Kitchener, where they were warmly embraced by audiences with Irish roots and fans of Celtic music alike. Their concerts here often celebrated the deep Irish heritage within the Kitchener-Waterloo region and were known for their joy, humour, and masterful musicianship.
“Mo Ghile Mear” (feat. Sting)
“The Foggy Dew” (feat. Sinéad O’Connor)
“Have I Told You Lately” (feat. Van Morrison)
“Boil the Breakfast Early”
“O’Sullivan’s March”
The Chieftains didn’t just play Irish music—they shaped the global conversation around it. Their decades-long influence lives on in the generations of musicians who followed, and in the hearts of fans across Kitchener-Waterloo and the world.
