Klick für deutsche Version:

Galleon returned to the record studio and will leave their basic haven soon.

After a sabatical break they are back on tour and will visit Germany in summer 2012!
The Tour-dates are confirmed and also there will be a new CD release!!

If you want to get informations about the band, concerts and the new CD you can register at our newsletter-service

If you want to you can register at our newsletter-service here !!


For some time we have been asked about the earlier recordings of Galleon.


Our first album " From Stem To Stern " was released in 1983.
The next album " On The C
rest Of A Wave " followed in 1985.
Then came " Anchors Aweigh " in 1987 and
in 1991 we released " An Ocean Of Folk "

These first 4 albums were released in Cassette form and up to now were no longer available. Added to the above we have also included " Hearts On Fire" which was released in 1998.

This special edition five CD presentation will be called
" Galleon - The Box Set - 1981 to 1998 ".
Digitally remastered it will contain 61 tracks.

The band were formed in 1979 and from their base in Cork travelled far and wide.It is fair to say that by the time Galleon retired in 2002 they had made a significant contribution to the entertainment scene from Cork to New York and many places between.

-

It all started in 1979, when by complete chance 5 young men came to work in a hospital in Cork. It was Our Lady's Hospital, on the Lee Road, situated on a hill overlooking the picturesque River Lee, as it meanders its way from Gougane Barra, through the beautiful Lee Valley, on its way to Cork City.

Those 5 guys were Tim O'Sullivan, from Killarney, Co Kerry, Michael Mangan from Youghal, a seaside town in East cork, Declan Lynch from Castleisland, Co Kerry, and Michael Looney from Kerry Pike, not far from the world famous Blarney Castle.
The city slicker in the original Galleon was Ger Walsh, from Ballyphehane, in the Southern suburbs of Cork city.

When these young men came to this hospital, it was their plan to work in the Health Services, but somehow their focus seemed to change.

This was a time when the pub culture in Ireland, was at its all time best. It was also a time when Irish Folk songs and music was being taken to global audiences by groups like the Clancy Brothers, The Chieftains, The Furey's and The Dubliners. Declan, Tim, Ger, Mick Mangan and Michael Looney became totally consumed with the passion they all shared for Folk songs and music.

There was not even a plan to start a band, and it happened almost by accident. In 1979 Galleon played its first gig. The idea of us becoming entertainers, singers, musicians and storytellers, became an obsession with us, and in a year Galleon became the most popular Folk Band in the South of Ireland. It was still the era of vinyl recordings, and Galleon recorded a number of vinyl records, and then some MC tapes, which established the band.

Tours of America, Canada and Great Britain were regular happenings for Galleon, while at home Galleon played at all the major venues and did all the best T.V. Shows.

Changes in the line up happened at different times. Each of the band left, except Declan, who is the only one, who has been always there. But by this time we had become to us, another family, and even though one might leave and there was time and space, between us, we never left each others hearts.

In 1986 we decided to become a 6 piece band, and Michael Harte became part of the family.
He was an extraordinary human being, and a super bass guitar player.

We had gathered around us a group of people, who would become integral parts of our organisation. Martin Griffin was one who got us through stormy waters, very often when it seemed the ship might sink, and Batty Mulcahy is another who has been with us, down the years. Batty Mulcahy was not a musician, but the contribution he made to our family was incredible. Harty passed away in 2006 and Batty left us in 2010. The family felt broken and not able to carry on.

When we eventually found the strength to carry on, we reckon the incredible spirits that were Harty and Batty are driving us on.

The band had some great and happy years, but it seemed at the start of 1991 we had no new horizons and perhaps the voyage might be over, but one Sunday afternoon in Cork, Henning Krautmacher, walked into a Galleon gig. Henning had a friend who was a friend of Galleon. This was the connection. It was the beginning of Galleon's love affair with Cologne, with the Rhineland, and Germany. When we first went to Germany the line up was Tim O'Sullivan, Ger Walsh, Michael Looney, Mick Harte and Declan Lynch. Batty Mulcahy was our mentor, our Roadie, our Sat Nav, and our friend and everywhere we went so did he.

There was new life in Galleon. There was fresh wind in our sails. Some great years followed. Cork and Cologne are sister cities. Galleon and Hoehner are sister bands. (or should that be brother bands).
Galleon did a lot of concert work in Germany in those years. Some memorable CD's were recorded.
Details of the CD'S can be accessed on the web site. Galleon shared the stage on many occasions with Hoehner, and did some recording together and Galleon also became a popular concert act themselves. Because of this adventure the voyage carried on for 10 more years. In 2002, the family broke up and it seemed like the voyage was over.

Musicians who had played with Galleon included Andy Dunne, Vince Milne, John O'Keefe, Paul Seymour, Johnny Scannell, Shirley Scannell, Noel Troy, and down all the years Johnny Campbell, was our sound engineer and was our chief studio influence, which resulted in the production of some acclaimed CD's.

When the urge to go back on the road came as it always seems to do, Michael Looney was concentrating on a solo career, and could not be with us. Andy Dunne came back to the band and then Mick Mangan came back on board. The music was good. We were having great fun. Life was good, but then Harty left this earthly stage and then Batty left us.
The voyage seemed over again.

But the family rallied and the present Galleon incarnation dawned. For this latest adventure we have a 7 piece band. Johnny Campbell joins us on stage on bass, Paul Seymour is with us on Keyboards, Andy Dunne is still in the Groove and four of the original 5 Galleons are still with the Band, They are Tim O'Sullivan, Ger Walshe, Mick Mangan and Declan Lynch.

It is now 2013. The good ship Galleon sails on. A live in Concert CD is now being planned and Galleon having been to Germany three times in 2013, is planning a November tour. Details of same will be posted on our website.

The line up for the 2006 tour is the same as those who formed for the 2005 reunion concert. All have been members of Galleon at one time or another. They are Mick Mangan - Guitar & Vocals, Tim 'O Sullivan - Guitar, Percussion and Vocals, Ger Walsh - Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Whistles and Vocals and of course the inimitable Declan Lynch - Bodhran, Vocals and Vocal Mayhem. These are four of the original members of Galleon and will be joined on stage by Andy Dunne - Guitars and Vocals, Paul Seymour - Keyboards and Vocals and Johnny Campbell - Bass guitar and Vocals. This is a cocktail of troubadours who have sailed on the good ship Galleon at different stages of it's musical voyage.

Mick * Tim * Ger * Declan

Andy * Johnny * Paul

 

Biografie
The band have produced numerous CD's. Appeared on a host of TV show's including RTE's " The Late Late Show" and "Live at 3" also on Canada's "Coast to coast TV". They also appeared on a one hour special " Galleon, live in the subway" for German National TV. When their recording career began, Vinyl was the media of the time and a memorable Vinyl release was a song celebrating Kerry's "5 in a row" all Ireland Victories. This recieved lots of national air-play in the weeks leading to the Final. However, Kerry failed to secure the 5th win and the rest is history!! The SUNDAY WORLD awarded the band the "Gobshite of the year" award in 1982. Now a treasured possesion of the lads.

The bands repertoire was never simply based on "Gimmicky" songs. Each band member is a vocalist of some note and each has a fondness for particular musical styles and songwriters. This has always been reflected in the live show. In fact a lot of the songs performed by Galleon were penned by the members themselves. They have always and continue to give there music new life and of course the "Galleon Vocal sound" always shines through in choruses.
Beschreibung
Galleon was founded by five guys who worked together in a hospital in Cork. They found that gigging was the perfect antidote to the demands of their daily work and throughout their 23 years on the road there were very few changes in personel.

The line up for the 2006 tour is the same as those who formed for the 2005 reunion concert. All have been members of Galleon at one time or another. They are Mick Mangan - Guitar & Vocals, Tim 'O Sullivan - Guitar, Percussion and Vocals, Ger Walsh - Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Whistles and Vocals and of course the inimitable Declan Lynch - Bodhran, Vocals and Vocal Mayhem. These are four of the original members of Galleon and will be joined on stage by Andy Dunne - Guitars and Vocals, Paul Seymour - Keyboards and Vocals and Johnny Campbell - Bass guitar and Vocals. This is a cocktail of troubadours who have sailed on the good ship Galleon at different stages of it's musical voyage.

During it's 23 years, the band have produced numerous CD's. Appeared on a host of TV show's including RTE's " The Late Late Show" and "Live at 3" also on Canada's "Coast to coast TV". They also appeared on a one hour special " Galleon, live in the subway" for German National TV. When their recording career began, Vinyl was the media of the time and a memorable Vinyl release was a song celebrating Kerry's "5 in a row" all Ireland Victories. This recieved lots of national air-play in the weeks leading to the Final. However, Kerry failed to secure the 5th win and the rest is history!! The SUNDAY WORLD awarded the band the "Gobshite of the year" award in 1982. Now a treasured possesion of the lads.

The bands repertoire was never simply based on "Gimmicky" songs. Each band member is a vocalist of some note and each has a fondness for particular musical styles and songwriters. This has always been reflected in the live show. In fact a lot of the songs performed by Galleon were penned by the members themselves. They have always and continue to give there music new life and of course the "Galleon Vocal sound" always shines through in choruses.

Galleon Fotos by Th Bittera

This page was publiced with the friendly help of D Dubbe.

Galleon are
Mick Mangan - Guitar & Vocals,
Tim 'O Sullivan - Guitar, Percussion and Vocals,
Ger Walsh - Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Whistles and Vocals and the inimitable
Declan Lynch - Bodhran, Vocals and Vocal Mayhem.

These are four of the original members of Galleon and will be joined on stage by Andy Dunne - Guitars and Vocals,
Paul Seymour - Keyboards and Vocals and
Johnny Campbell - Bass guitar and Vocals.

Mick Harte

(HARTY)

1953 - 2006

R.I.P.

Member of Galleon 1986 - 2006

Mick's untimely death is indescribable in how profoundly his passing was felt by the band and those close to him. When asked for his present feeling Tim 'O Sullivan echoed the feelings of all the lads when he replied "We are still numbed. He was a part of us and has taken a part of us with him but he will always be with us both on and off stage and we will never forget him. We hope that we can perpetuate his memory everytime we do a concert".

Continue to galleon page