“The Chieftains? One of the greatest bands on the planet!” – Paul McCartney

"Congratulations on 40 years of bringing remarkable musicians together from all over the world and endearing Irish traditional music to everyone." – Bonnie Raitt

“Before there was ‘world music,’ there was Paddy and The Chieftains—and me and my tapes in a Dublin studio with an 8-track board.” – Art Garfunkel, referring to his first collaboration with the group in 1975 for his album Watermark

“In an industry where aging gracefully is, if not impossible, at least frowned upon, the Chieftains have shown us all that with superb musicianship and camaraderie, one can create great work agelessly.” – Steve Berlin of Los Lobos

“When in a Hollywood recording studio to collaborate with The Chieftains on a track for their album Santiago, we found ourselves sitting on folding chairs face to face holding our instruments set up in straight lines opposite each other. Staring down at the linoleum floor between us, I couldn't help but think that it represented the vast expanse of sea that sometimes divides two cultures literally and symbolically. But for that moment, suspended by the musical notes we exchanged, a bridge was created that connected both our cultures. For the last 40 years, The Chieftains have brought the world closer together with their wealth of music and experience.” – Louie Perez of Los Lobos

“[Paddy Moloney] is a brilliant soloist. You know, it’s funny because you don’t have Paddy sitting-in the sense that many musicians sit-in. Paddy has a vast repertoire of traditional melodies and I don’t think it’s really like jamming around. He’s able to fit any number of traditional melodies to contemporary music. To contemporary songs.” – Jackson Browne*

“These guys are the real deal. They’re seriously fiery.” – Dr. John*

“U2 is maybe the most popular and successful export coming from Ireland today, but there’s no comparison between the musical quality of what they do and what The Chieftains do … [They] are their own culture and I hear traces of not only Celtic history but global history in their work, echoing back to the beginning of time … ” – Frank Zappa to Irish journalist Joe Jackson*

“The Chieftains are an excellent band and … they are an attractive band to work with because it’s a long tradition. They’re also a great bunch of guys to be hanging out with. It [was] very prestigious for me to sing with them.” – Sting*

“I heard a story that in Nigeria (I think it was Nigeria) during one of their many coups, rebel forces took over one of the national radio stations and were playing [music by] The Chieftains along with various African artists. Whether this is true or not, it is this connection between Irish and African music that makes Paddy Moloney’s minstrels so vital to me, so un-northern European, so ancient, primeval—yet still the sound of the future…” – Bono of U2*

“[The Chieftains’] music has become much more popular than when they were first playing it. It’s the same music as it was then. Paddy hasn’t made any changes, but it used to be a much more specialized side road or musical byway. But to have a popular base he had to broaden it. I think it’s fantastic now and much more entertaining.” – Marianne Faithfull*

“The simple up-tempo Irish jigs can wash all of one’s cares away. There is something primal in this music and it touches people deeply. Indeed, I think The Chieftains have survived for so long because of the quality and the timelessness of the music they play. Also, I think the energy and tenacity of Paddy ‘The Operator’ Moloney has certainly been a factor. Blarney, indeed.” – Don Henley*

* Quotes from The Chieftains: The Authorized Biography by John Glatt (Da Capo Press, 2000)

The Essential Chieftains

Further Down the Old Plank Road

Down the Old Plank Road

Water From the Well

Tears of Stone

Long Black Veil

The Bells of Dublin

Live From Patrick Street

Cherish the Ladies: Woman of the House

Tannahill Weavers: Arnish Light