Merry Ploughboys

The Merry Ploughboys are from Dublin, Ireland and have performed together for over 30 years. They tell the story of Ireland through their songs and music.

The themes of many of their songs represent Ireland, past and present, with sad songs of emigration, more lively songs of rebellion and historic ballads of famous Irish events and Irish heroes. There are also many humorous songs in the repertoire, often with an unusual twist at the end! There is lots of audience participation in the show, and when they play in Cleveland they say it is like playing to friends.

2023 is the 21st year that the Ploughboys have played for Cleveland, and one of their most popular songs in Cleveland, “Achill to Cuyahoga,” was composed here in Cleveland by Liam. The song was inspired by the incredible links between Achill Island in County Mayo, Ireland and Cleveland, USA.

The band owns a pub and restaurant in the Dublin mountains, which has a fully seated venue for 200 at their famous dinner and show and which has a full house throughout the year. Last year in excess of 40,000 visitors came to their show. It has been awarded the gold medal award by CIE tours, Ireland’s biggest International tour operator, for “Ireland’s best dinner/show” six times in a row. Many visitors to the The Merry Ploughboy pub enjoy having a reunion back in Cleveland and say it’s “like being back in Ireland again!”

HALF CRAIC’d

Craic is a Gaelic term for fun, party, music,and entertainment – usually involving alcohol. Half Craic’d is a Cleveland Irish band playing an eclectic mix of originals, Irish rock, R&R, trad, and country/bluegrass. A subsidiary of the Craic Brothers, members of the local Cleveland Irish music scene for the past ten years, Half Craic’d blends their different musical experience and influences into their own unique brand of Irish music.

Half Craic’d consists of Marc Mattix on fiddle and mandolin, Bernie McCafferty on guitar, and Dan Hulse on banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, tin whistle, and bodhran. Catch the lads playing at your favorite local Irish pubs or on Kelleys Island during the summer months. For a full schedule, visit www.craicbrothers.com. Sláinte!