The Dubliners

The Dubliners in concert

at Norwich Theatre Royal

Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 14 March 2012

The world of fifty years ago was a foreign country when Ireland’s Dubliners began performing. Their celebratory tour recalls many changes of the decades.

Original Barney McKenna is still playing, and while some have come and gone, all are long-serving. A certain magic binds them together, sharing their love of jigs and reels, instrumentals, ballads and folk songs, traditional and new.

A packed house, many the same age as the band, others younger, was spellbound by quality Celtic folk tradition, guitar, banjo, whistle, fiddle, tapping along approvingly.

1967’s chart-topper Seven Drunken Nights was followed by songs, some poignant, others funny, about Ireland, mountains, alcohol and jobs long gone, like the ferrymen.

Many lyrics were from the political-social commentary wing of folk, while the haunting I Wish I Had Someone to Love Me was moving indeed.

Band banter and anecdotes supplemented old videos and stills on the back screen, like a big scrap book and tribute to Dubliners who have passed away.

The concert was a nostalgic joy, encouraging and inspiring to share with men who have no intention of stopping. They promised to return to Norwich ‘to start our second fifty years’.