Dubliners Memorabilia

Collecting Dubliners memorabilia is very unique, because the band’s career began in the early 1960s, and is still going strong today. Dubliners collectors can build their collections with a combination of vintage and current items.

Contents 1 History of the Dubliners 2 History in the Making 3 Collectible Albums 4 Where to Buy Dubliners Recordings 5 Dubliners Lyrics 6 Dubliners Video Tribute 7 Other Types of Dubliners Memorabilia 8 In Search of Dubliners Memorabilia 9 Websites of Interest to Dubliners Fans and Collectors 10 Building Your Collection

History of the Dubliners

The Dubliners began making Irish folk music in 1962 and are still playing and touring through Europe today. Often referred to as the godfathers of modern Irish folk music, the Dubliners evolved from humble beginnings as a bar band to their current international fame. Starting off in Dublin’s O'Donoghue's Pub as the Ronnie Drew Folk Group, a year later the group met Nathan Joseph, head of Transatlantic Records, and began recording. In 1967, they recorded “Seven Drunken Nights” which led to world wide tours, gold records, and folk music history.

Rumors of retirement began in the 1980s, but thus far the rumors have proven false. Although the group has gone through a number of changes throughout its long and storied history, one original member, instrumentalist Barney McKenna, remains with the group. The Dubliners continue to tour Europe every year, and are still recording new CDs.

History in the Making

Since the Dubliners are still making music and touring, it is an excellent time to start building your collection of Dubliners memorabilia. Fans can collect original albums, re-mastered CDs, and brand new recordings.

Collectible Albums

There are many resources for locating vintage and current Dubliners recordings. You can even watch and hear the Dubliners perform on YouTube. Some of the most popular Dubliners albums include:

• Ireland’s Prodigal Sons
• Live at the Gaiety
• Original Dubliners
• Seven Drunken Nights
• The Best of the Dubliners: Irish Favorites
• The Dubliners
• The Dubliners 40 Years
• The Ultimate Collection: Spirit of the Irish
• Wild Irish Rovers
• and many others

Where to Buy Dubliners Recordings

Image:Record mary.jpg If you want to own your own vinyl records or CDs, the following retailers are excellent resources for finding Dubliners recordings to add to your collection.

• CD Universe: remastered and newly recorded CDs
• CJ’s Music Merchandise: wide variety of recordings
• Dara Records: Irish music store
• Amoeba Outlet CD’s and DVDs on eBay.com
• eBay Ireland: you never know what you might find
• eBay UK: different items every day
• EIL.com: carries a wide selection of collectible albums; site visitors may reserve "next available copy" of currently unavailable items
• For Your Entertainment (F.Y.E.): wide selection of Dubliners and other folk music albums
• Irish Country Music: new releases and vintage albums
• Irish Music Mail: specializes in Irish traditional and folk music
• Sounds Irish: exclusively carries Irish music
• Vinyl Tap World Wide Rarities: specializes in vinyl, CD’s and music memorabilia

Dubliners Lyrics

Those who collect music memorabilia often enjoy collecting lyrics in addition to recordings. Lyrics for popular Dubliners songs are available from:

• All The Lyrics
• Seek Lyrics
• ST Lyrics

Dubliners Video Tribute

• The Dubliners DVD: Fans will enjoy viewing this guided video tour of Dublin. The DVD is narrated by band member Ronnie Drew. It highlights the career of the Dubliners, and features performances of some of the band's most well-loved tunes.

Other Types of Dubliners Memorabilia

It is not easy to locate Dubliners concert tickets, posters, ticket stubs, or other types of memorabilia. Such items can occasionally be found on eBay in the US, UK, Ireland, and Australia. Dedicated collectors should check these sites regularly to watch for new items. It is possible that many fans are holding on to their mementos for sentimental reasons, or are keeping items in anticipation of an increase in value when, and if, the band stops touring.

In Search of Dubliners Memorabilia

• The Webmaster for TheDublinersHomePage.com is seeking trades of Dubliners videos, audio recordings, and CD’s.

• The Central Library in Birmingham, England is in search of memorabilia of recording artists, including the Dubliners, who played at the Birmingham Town Hall during the 1950s and 1960s. Collected mementos will be included in an archive of Town Hall events and exhibited in the renovated Town Hall so that current visitors may enjoy memorabilia from the facility’s early days. Individuals who would like to donate posters, programs, pictures, flyers and concert ticket stubs from long-ago town hall performances may submit their donations to: Patrick Baird, Local Studies, Floor 6, Birmingham Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3HQ.

Websites of Interest to Dubliners Fans and Collectors

• Dubliners Fan Site
• Dubliners Forum
• TheDublinersHomePage.com Dubliners Home Page
• Irish Music Hall of Fame (coming soon)
• Shaking Out the Sheets, an article about the influence of the Dubliners’ music.

Building Your Collection

For many collectors, the best part of their hobby is searching for items to add to their compilations. Collecting Dubliners memorabilia is unusual in that collectors can search for vintage memorabilia from several decades, and can also acquire new items since the band is still touring and recording. Creating a collection that spans the decades between 1962 and the present is a dream comes true for many music memorabilia collectors.