FINBAR FUREY has left his mark on the Irish folk scene, ever since becoming the only uilleann pipe player to win the All-Ireland, the Oireachtas medal and the four province titles in the same year as a teenager.

Since then, he has reached international success with his brothers Eddie, George and Paul in The Fureys, toured with The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners and even appeared in a couple of Hollywood blockbusters, most notably Martin Scorcese's Gangs of New York.

In 1995 Finbar left his brothers in The Fureys to embark on a solo career where he pursued a new life as a singer, musician, songwriter and producer.

Since then, he has written some of the most iconic and cherished songs in the Irish songbook.

A gifted storyteller, much of Finbar's songs are inspired by his childhood in Ballyfermot and his love of his native Ireland.


Perhaps Glen Hansard said it best when he said: "Finbar Furey, even his name sings defiantly."

Earlier this year, Finbar re-released his much-loved album Paddy Dear, with a number of additional songs.

Renamed Don't Stop This Now, he toured much of the UK and Ireland playing songs from this album as well as classics such as 'When You Were Sweet Sixteen' and 'Green Fields of France'.

Ahead of his appearance on the London special of The Late Late Show and his one-night-only concert at Union Chapel next month, Finbar joined us in the city he has frequented many times over the years to cast his mind back to fond memories - of which he has many.

You can listen to the full interview with Finbar here.

Tickets for Finbar Furey at London's Union Chapel are available here.