Patrick Joseph McGuigan was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on August 13th 1939. He played for some years with the folk group 'The Barleycorn', who had huge 'grass roots' success, but did not get airplay on RTE radio because of the overt political content of their songs. McGuigan wrote mainly Irish rebel songs, including "The Men Behind the Wire", "The Boys of the Old Brigade", "Irish Soldier Laddie", "Freedom Walk" and "Bring Them Home".
McGuigan wrote this particular Jam in the aftermath of internment in Northern Ireland, and it describes raids by British soldiers, "the men behind the wire" referring to those held without charge or trial at Long Kesh prison camp, Magilligan prison camp, and on board the Maidstone Prison Ship. McGuigan himself was arrested during a later round of internment. McGuigan released his only solo album in 1975, "My Country, My Songs and Me".
4 Comments (since 24 Mar 2014)
rest_in_peace
Patrick Joseph McGuigan was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on August 13th 1939. He played for some years with the folk group 'The Barleycorn', who had huge 'grass roots' success, but did not get airplay on RTE radio because of the overt political content of their songs. McGuigan wrote mainly Irish rebel songs, including "The Men Behind the Wire", "The Boys of the Old Brigade", "Irish Soldier Laddie", "Freedom Walk" and "Bring Them Home".
rest_in_peace
McGuigan wrote this particular Jam in the aftermath of internment in Northern Ireland, and it describes raids by British soldiers, "the men behind the wire" referring to those held without charge or trial at Long Kesh prison camp, Magilligan prison camp, and on board the Maidstone Prison Ship. McGuigan himself was arrested during a later round of internment. McGuigan released his only solo album in 1975, "My Country, My Songs and Me".
rest_in_peace
Along with Dermot O'Brien, he also produced the album "The Price Of Justice", featuring Kathleen Largey of the 'Flying Column Music Group'. Paddy McGuigan died on March 17th 2014, aged 74, following a short illness. He is survived by his second wife Cecilia, two daughters and two sons, and a step-daughter. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ballad-songwriter-paddy-mcguigan-died-on-st-patricks-day-30104836.html
natyblooming
Wonderful!