Not ITM but surely of interest to all who like ITM influenced folk and the bands this seminal group gave rise to. There is a three page feature on Sweeny’s Men in the September edition of the magazine Mojo.
Sweenys Men are King,
My favourite band ever!!!
Tommy
I should also report that the same issue of Mojo contains a six page feature on the Pogues which includes a rather funny description of a confrontation they once had with Noel Hill.
The Pogues rule!!!
Noel Hill didn’t think so. 
Noel has his own tastes…I suppose. I’m of the same mind as Christy Moore when it comes to the songwriting of Shane McGowan…brilliant stuff.
I usually hate “me too” posts, but in this case Joseph, me too.
Cheers
Steve
OK, perhaps we can see what others think here. It might be interesting.
I like the Pogues; I don’t see any reason why there shouldn’t be a punk Irish band and, if there is going to be one, the Pogues are as good as it gets I think. I can see Noel’s point of view though; no member of the Pogues comes within light years of him as an instrumentalist. I think the Pogues music makes most sense if you know what it is like to be Irish in England. (I’ve lived for 7 years in England where I had a lot of Irish friends.) I don’t see any reason why Noel Hill should be expected to understand the punk sensibility that informs their work. It probably would have been wiser not to bad-mouth them, though.
I also like McGowan’s songwriting. I think he’s truly talented. But I’ve heard some, to me, outrageous comparisons. Heir to the legacy of Yeats, Joyce and O’Brien? I don’t think so.
I don’t think it is good idea to compare Shane with anybody but himself. For starters, this is a different century which brings about a different perspective. I’ve heard the comparisons too, but I find it just as absurd as claiming Yeats will be the heir apparent of McGowan…can’t really see it. 
The best comparison I’ve heard for McGowan’s lyrics is to Charles Bukowski’s poetry.
I think The Pogues were brilliant but I haven’t liked any Irish-influenced punk bands since them.
Terry Woods’ bio is interesting. Though some argue Celtic-Rock was happening in the Scottish Highlands before Sweeny’s. It happened out of necessity. In order to get gigs Rock bands would play ceilidh tunes on their electric guitars and trap-sets to get the gig and after the dance was over they would bust out the Rock’n’Roll.
Cheers,
Aaron
I think Shane was a fine songwriter.
Unfortunately he became a victim of the notion that alcohol is a good substitute for happiness.
Mukade
Joseph,
You’re just making a mountain out of a nole hill…
Tommy
…yeah, I thought that my reasoning was ‘Mc-Gowan nowhere’.
I remember reading a transcription of the radio show where this encounter happened. It was basically ‘you’re not traditional’ - ‘who said we were?’ - "you suck’ - ‘I bet I feck better than you can’. ‘Planxty Noel Hill’ was written shortly after .
As for the musicianship, Hill was right to a point. But tell that to Terry Woods. Before joining the Pogues he was in Sweeney’s Men and Steeleye Span, and can play almost anything.
That’s right. That’s exactly the exchange. Silly of Noel to get sucked in I think. Whilst I love both the Pogues and Sweeney’s Men, I don’t think that either had an instrumentalist who could match Noel Hill for virtuosity, which isn’t to say that they can’t play their instruments plenty well enough for what they are doing. But so what? And I guess that was their point in that exchange. I think that was Spider who made those remarks.
Now, bring on Tony MacMahon.
I guess that’s why they play as a band instead of being solo instrumentalists 
To get to the point of this thread necromancy: I’m looking for any info that anyone might have on Terry Woods’ projects going on tour. His web presence is … not present, but I do know that he is sporadically touring with the Hellfire Club and as a trio with “Harrigan, Woods and Chevron”.
Does anyone know anything? I did email with Jamie Clarke (from “Jamie Clarke’s Perfect” (dreadful band), he did play as a concert guitarist for the Pogues at the Pogue Mahone tour), but he also had nothing definite to tell me.
When I was starting off in ITM, I played the Sweeneys Men album until it was wore out. Every track on it is first class and the bouzouki and mandolin exchanges between Johnny Moynihan and Andy Irvine laid down the foundations for what would later become the distinctive sound of Planxty which in turn paved the way for the Bothy Band and nearly everybody else who came after.
It could be argued that this album was where the modern day sound of ITM bands originated from.
An essential in any self respecting CD collection.
Slan,
D. 
This book by Colin Harper and Trevor Hodgett has a collection of articles on Irish music including what I think the definitive pieces on Sweeney and the whole scene around Moynihan, Irvine etc. Recommended!
If that’s Woods and Moynihan on the left, Gallagher in the middle..who’s that on the right.
Looks like Nick Drake???
Slan,
D.
That one and Prosperous…
Steve