Blackthorn’s

About The Band
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The Inception
Formed in the mid 70’s in Belfast, Blackthorn have survived various line up changes to become the longest running folk band in the North of Ireland, and possibly the whole of Ireland.

Records
The band took two singles into the Irish ‘Top 20’ – ‘A Children’s Winter’ and ‘Flower of Scotland’.

TV/Radio Appearances
As I roved Out’ (BBC NI)
‘St Patrick’s Day’ – Featuring Dana and Phil Coulter (BBC NI)
‘On Stage Tonight ’ (UTV)
‘The Kelly Show ’ (UTV)
‘Sounds Of Ulster’ (BBC Radio Ulster)
‘The Brian Matthew Show, live from Belfast Festival at Queen’s (BBC Radio 2)
Blackthorn were mentioned along with ‘Stockton’s Wing’ as being class night out for the hole in the wall gang’s ‘Da’ in BBC NI’s ‘Give My Head Peace’ .

Gigs
We currently play most Sunday Lunchtimes at
‘Benedict’s’ , Shaftesbury Sq, Belfast
Residencies of day gone by have included:
The Errigle Inn, Ormeau Road, Belfast (7 years)
The Elms bar , University St, Belfast (7 years)
The Empire, Botanic Avenue, Belfast (4 years)
We’ve played all over Ireland including Dublin, Kilkenny and Donegal and we’ve been regulars in the Tyneside Irish Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne but one of our most unusual gigs involved being flown by helicopter to an oil rig in the Shetland Islands to play for 2000 strong crowd. This was the only all-male audience the band has ever played to.

Musical influences
The Dubliners
Christy Moore
Planxty
Bothy Band
Pogues
Beatles
Garth Brooks

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Blackthorn

The band shared management, Jim Slye productions, with hypnotist Barry Sinclair and folk rock legends ‘Horslips’

Blackthorn drummer Eamonn O’Carroll was once hypnotised by said Barry Sinclair and to this day can’t do a ‘wee’ unless he’s ‘sitting down like a girl’

Blackthorn were the first folk band to play both inside the City Hall, Belfast and Parliament buildings , Stormont

Brian Mc Ateer, fiddle player, has to take ‘ugly pills’ because he’s too good-looking.

Sharing a billing on the UTV ‘Kelly show’ with Magnus ‘Mastermind’ Magnusson, the band witnessed his being excluded from the non-smoking ‘Green Room’ for smoking a Pipe. He described his treatment as ‘Barbaric’ .

The Band have never bought anyone a drink.

Erm, this is getting hard, alright – ‘6 or 7 things you didn’t know about Blackthorn’

The Inception	Formed in the mid 70’s in Belfast, Blackthorn have survived various line up changes to become the longest running folk band in the North of Ireland, and possibly the whole of Ireland.
Records	The band took two singles into the Irish ‘Top 20’ – ‘A Children’s Winter’ and ‘Flower of Scotland’.
TV/Radio Appearances	As I roved Out’ (BBC NI) ‘St Patrick’s Day’ – Featuring Dana and Phil Coulter (BBC NI) ‘On Stage Tonight ’ (UTV) ‘The Kelly Show ’ (UTV) ‘Sounds Of Ulster’ (BBC Radio Ulster) ‘The Brian Matthew Show, live from Belfast Festival at Queen’s (BBC Radio 2) Blackthorn were mentioned along with ‘Stockton’s Wing’ as being class night out for the hole in the wall gang’s ‘Da’ in BBC NI’s ‘Give My Head Peace’ .
Gigs	We currently play most Sunday Lunchtimes at ‘Benedict’s’ , Shaftesbury Sq, Belfast Residencies of day gone by have included: The Errigle Inn, Ormeau Road, Belfast (7 years) The Elms bar , University St, Belfast (7 years) The Empire, Botanic Avenue, Belfast (4 years) We’ve played all over Ireland including Dublin, Kilkenny and Donegal and we’ve been regulars in the Tyneside Irish Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne but one of our most unusual gigs involved being flown by helicopter to an oil rig in the Shetland Islands to play for 2000 strong crowd. This was the only all-male audience the band has ever played to.
Musical influences	The Dubliners Christy Moore Planxty Bothy Band Pogues Beatles Garth Brooks
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Blackthorn	The band shared management, Jim Slye productions, with hypnotist Barry Sinclair and folk rock legends ‘Horslips’ Blackthorn drummer Eamonn O’Carroll was once hypnotised by said Barry Sinclair and to this day can’t do a ‘wee’ unless he’s ‘sitting down like a girl’ Blackthorn were the first folk band to play both inside the City Hall, Belfast and Parliament buildings , Stormont Brian Mc Ateer, fiddle player, has to take ‘ugly pills’ because he’s too good-looking. Sharing a billing on the UTV ‘Kelly show’ with Magnus ‘Mastermind’ Magnusson, the band witnessed his being excluded from the non-smoking ‘Green Room’ for smoking a Pipe. He described his treatment as ‘Barbaric’ . The Band have never bought anyone a drink. Erm, this is getting hard, alright – ‘6 or 7 things you didn’t know about Blackthorn’