Are the Chieftains ready to bow out?

“The Irish Goodbye Tour. This is the name of the tour that Irish band “The Chieftains” will be giving in the United States.

Scheduled for 2020, its name sounds like a farewell to the American public… although the band has not officially communicated about the possible end of their career.

It’s a strange name, and one that’s already raising questions in Ireland and elsewhere: are the Chieftains ready to bow out? Will this tour be an opportunity for the band to say goodbye to their fans on the other side of the Atlantic?

These stalwarts of traditional Irish music have been touring for over 58 years (the group was founded in 1962). Considered to be one of the greatest Irish folk bands in history, they’ve always known how to revisit Irish trady music, mixing genres and trying new things. Accustomed to both large and small venues, these musicians have always been considered part of Ireland’s musical heritage. A real source of pride for Ireland!

But the name of this tour sounds like a farewell, and is a source of much concern to the Irish public. After almost 60 years of loyal service, aren’t they tired? Are they looking forward to a well-deserved retirement?
So it’s not unlikely that the strange name of this tour is a clue to the Chieftains’ probable demise…

But for the moment, it doesn’t matter: band members Paddy Moloney, Matt Molloy and Kevin Coneff intend to tour America revisiting their repertoire. And of course, the tour promises to be grandiose!

It will be fantastic to return once again to America, where we are always welcomed with open arms,” said Paddy Moloney. We’ll share a lively evening of music, stories, laughter and super craic! In each city, we’ll be performing with local pipe and drum bands, Irish dance schools, choirs and special guests! Our American fans continue to give us a warm welcome, so it will be a great pleasure to play again for all our friends.

For the time being, the Chieftains have not said anything about the possible end of the group. Leaving the mystery unanswered, for the moment they are surfing on their upcoming concerts.

The tour kicks off on February 14, in Maryville, Tennessee. It will end in Fairfax, Virginia, on March 17. It’s not too late to reserve your seats. Visit www.thechieftains.com to discover the dates.