From Dublin’s fair city

Four giants of the Irish folk scene play Preston next month.

The Dublin Legends, who feature three former members of iconic band The Dubliners – Sean Cannon, Eamonn Campbell and Patsy Watchorn – and Gerry O’Connor, once of Four Men & A Dog are at the Charter Theatre on Tuesday, February 25.

Sean & Eamonn were members of The Dubliners for close to 30 years while Patsy joined “The Dubs” 10 years ago.

Meanwhile Gerry has played with everyone from Sharon Shannon to Shane MacGowan and also tours with guitar hero Joe Bonamassa.

In 2012 The Dubliners celebrated 50 years in the music business with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and a sell-out UK concert tour, the highlight of which was a magical night at The Royal Albert Hall in London.

Sadly, they subsequently suffered a body blow with the sudden tragic death of founder member ‘Banjo’ Barney McKenna.

Quite naturally this meant that the remaining members chose to sit down and decide upon the band’s future.

John Sheahan, after 48 years of touring, decided it was time to step off the tour bus and it was agreed that The Dubliners, as a touring band, should end. The Dublin Legends were born.

The four continue the legacy begun by Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Ciaran Bourke, Barney McKenna and John Sheahan back in 1962.

As Barney himself once famously said “It’s too late to stop now!”

‘The Lads’ are looking forward to entertaining andmeeting all their old friends and fans across the UK, Scotland and Europe in 2014 and will continue to play all the classic songs and ballads known the world over; Whiskey in The Jar, Dirty Old Town, The Wild Rover, Seven Drunken Nights, The Rare Auld Times, Finnegan’s Wake, Molly Malone, The Monto, Hand Me Down Me Bible, The Irish Rover, Black Velvet Band and many more.

Tickets £20www.prestonguildhall.com/