# Barley Bree

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Northern Irish-Canadian band

Barley Bree Origin Northern Ireland Years active 1973–1995 Label Shanachie Records Members Tom Sweeney Jimmy Sweeney P.V. O'Donnell Brian Doherty Seamus O'Hagan Nicky Bryson

**Barley Bree** was a [Northern Irish](/source/Northern_Irish)-[Canadian](/source/Canada) band active from 1973 to 1995. It was formed in Northern Ireland in 1973, by Nicky Bryson, [Buncrana](/source/Buncrana) fiddler P.V. O'Donnell, Seamus O'Hagan ([Cookstown](/source/Cookstown)), and Jimmy Sweeney, a nephew of [Tommy Makem](/source/Tommy_Makem) and grandson of [Traditional singer](/source/Traditional_singer) [Sarah Makem](/source/Sarah_Makem).[1][2] In 1977, all except Bryson moved to [Nova Scotia](/source/Nova_Scotia); Bryson was replaced by Tom Sweeney. In 1979, O'Hagan returned to Northern Ireland and the band continued on as a trio until 1995, when Tom Sweeney left to pursue a solo career.[3][4][5]

Barley Bree widely toured [North America](/source/North_America) and released eight successful albums.[6] They also fronted a weekly television series called *Barley Bree* which lasted for two years. After breaking up, they reunited several times at the [Milwaukee Irish Fest](/source/Milwaukee_Irish_Fest).[7]

Barley Bree appeared with [Tommy Makem](/source/Tommy_Makem) and [Cherish the Ladies](/source/Cherish_the_Ladies) on the 1992 CD and video, *Tommy Makem and Friends in Concert*.[8]

Nova Scotia musician Brian Doherty (of Evans & Doherty)[9] joined the band as their recording bass player in 1985. In 2012, Kevin Evans, Doherty and Jimmy Sweeney released the album *Sailing Ships And Sailing Men*,[10] a companion to a one-hour radio show they hosted on CBC’s Atlantic Airwaves.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Jimmy Sweeney still lives and performs in Nova Scotia.[11] In 1998, he released the album *Come Listen Awhile*.[12]

P.V. O'Donnell settled in [Manchester, Connecticut](/source/Manchester%2C_Connecticut), and worked as a fiddle instructor, played with the [Hartford Symphony Orchestra](/source/Hartford_Symphony_Orchestra), recorded two albums and continued to perform and tour. He died of brain cancer on January 29, 2011.[13]

Tom Sweeney returned to [Omagh](/source/Omagh), [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland), and carved out a successful career as a solo folk singer. He has released several albums including *Daisy a Day* and *Poems of Ireland*, along with several very popular children's albums. In 1998, he was invited to the [White House](/source/White_House) to perform for then President [Bill Clinton](/source/Bill_Clinton) at the annual [St.Patrick's day](/source/Saint_Patrick's_Day) celebrations. To an audience which included [John Hume](/source/John_Hume), [David Trimble](/source/David_Trimble) and [Gerry Adams](/source/Gerry_Adams), Tom performed a song he had written during the height of [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland)'s [troubles](/source/The_Troubles) entitled "Anthem for the Children".[14]

## Discography

Barley Bree 1982 Dolphin Records Barley Bree Live 1984 Rego Castles in the Air 1985 Shanachie Records No Man's Land 1986 Shanachie Records Speak Up for Old Ireland 1987 Shanachie Records Anthem for the Children 1992 Shanachie Records Love is Teasing 1993 Shanachie Records The Best of Barley Bree 1995 Shanachie Records

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Talented Sweeneys"](http://www.cgim.org/sweeneyclan/misc/tomsweeney.html). *Sweeney Clan*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Tommy Makem, Barley Bree. ["I'll Tell Me Ma"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXspcpsKHtw). *Youtube*. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/zXspcpsKHtw) from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Barley Bree"](http://www.theballadeers.com/noa/bb_01.htm). *The Balladeers*. Retrieved 23 November 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Barley Bree. ["Ireland My Home"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwODMhTWT0E). *Youtube*. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/xwODMhTWT0E) from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Barley Bree. ["The Star of the County Down"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k9-iOepDPk). *Youtube*. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9k9-iOepDPk) from the original on 21 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Barley Bree"](https://www.discogs.com/artist/2439239-Barley-Bree). *discogs.com*. Discogs. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Various – Milwaukee Irish Fest Silver"](https://www.discogs.com/release/9921778-Various-Milwaukee-Irish-Fest-Silver). *discogs.com*. Discogs. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Tommy Makem: Discography"](http://clancybrothersandtommymakem.com/tm_d16a_and_friends.htm). *clancybrothersandtommymakem.com*. The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Who We Are"](https://www.evansanddoherty.com/who-we-are/). *evansanddoherty.com*. Evans & Doherty. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Evans & Doherty with Jimmy Sweeny – Sailing Ships And Sailing Men"](https://www.discogs.com/release/15034510-Evans-Doherty-with-Jimmy-Sweeny-Sailing-Ships-And-Sailing-Men). *discogs.com*. Discogs. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Jimmy Sweeney & Kevin Roach, Jan 2018"](https://www.oldtriangle.com/event/jimmy-sweeney-kevin-roach-31/). *oldtriangle.com*. The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Jimmy Sweeny – Come Listen Awhile"](https://www.discogs.com/master/1838893-Jimmy-Sweeny-Come-Listen-Awhile). *discogs.com*. Discogs. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Patrick Vincent O'Donnell Obituary"](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/journalinquirer/name/patrick-o-donnell-obituary?id=20875555). *legacy.com*. Legacy, The Journal Inquirer. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Sweeney, Tom. ["Anthem for the Children"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQH28s2fxtE). *Youtube*. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/NQH28s2fxtE) from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2015.

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