The Fleadh Cowboys are a Dublin-based folk-rock/country band.

The Fleadh Cowboys were formed in 1985 by Johnny Moynihan

Johnny Moynihan

John "Johnny" Moynihan , is a folk singer based in Dublin, Ireland. He is often credited as being responsible for introducing the bouzouki and the Irish bouzouki into Irish music in the mid 1960s. Known as "The Bard of Dalymount", as a young man he played in the band Sweeney's Men with Andy Irvine,...

, Pete Cummins and Frankie Lane, in Kenny's pub in Westland Row in Dublin. They recruited Jimmy Faulkner

Jimmy Faulkner

Jimmy Faulkner was one of Ireland's top guitarists, who in a four-decade career played with many of Ireland's leading rock, blues, folk and jazz musicians....

 on electric guitar and Garvan Gallagher on bass and along with Fran Breen on drums they moved to The Harcourt Hotel on Harcourt Street.

Adding Phil Donnelly and Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly (Irish musician)

Paul Kelly is an Irish multi-instrumentalist musician from Tallaght in Dublin, Ireland. He has played Irish traditional music, bluegrass and country, and is equally at home in a variety of different styles of music.-Early life:...

 amongst others, they had a long-running residency in Dublin's Olympia Theatre

Olympia Theatre, Dublin

The Olympia Theatre is a concert hall/theatre venue in Dublin, Ireland, located in Dame Street.-History:Built in 1879, it was originally called the "Star of Erin Music Hall". Two years later in 1881, it was renamed "Dan Lowrey's Music Hall" and was renamed again in 1889 to "Dan Lowrey's Palace of...

. The band established a format where every week a guest or guests would join them on stage. Guests at the venue included Mary Coughlan

Mary Coughlan (singer)

Mary Coughlan is an Irish jazz and folk singer and actress. She has received great acclamation in her native country, for her emotional and heartfelt jazzy musical renditions.-Background:...

, Shane McGowan, The Waterboys

The Waterboys

The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...

, The Hothouse Flowers, Nanci Griffith

Nanci Griffith

Nanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...

, John Prine

John Prine

John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...

 and Joe Ely

Joe Ely

Joe Ely is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist whose music touches on honky-tonk, Texas Country, Tex-Mex and rock and roll....

.

The Fleadhs toured with Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...

, The Pogues, The Waterboys and Emmylou Harris

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...

.

The band broke up in 1990 though they later reformed for gigs and to record. The individual musicians continued to play and record in different formations. Paul Kelly and Frankie Lane, accompanied by Eleanor Shanley

Eleanor Shanley

One of Irelands foremost singers, Eleanor Shanley, from Keshcarrigan in County Leitrim in the North West of Ireland, is renowned for her unique interpretation of Irish and Roots songs. She has been at the top of her profession since her first appearance as the singer with traditional group De...

, play and tour together in Ireland and throughout Europe. Pete Cummins (the band's main songwriter) released his debut solo album The Brilliant Architect in 2008 to critical acclaim. His anti-war song "Flowers in Baghdad" was in the Neil Young

Neil Young

Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...

 anti-war charts Living with War, for almost two years. He continues to tour with guitarist Ger Kiely.

In May 2011 the band was reformed by Pete Cummins to organize a charity event at Dublin's Button Factory, with guests Lisa Hannigan

Lisa Hannigan

Lisa Margaret Hannigan is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. For several years she was a member of Damien Rice's band before beginning her solo career in 2008. She has been the recipient of various award nominations and critical praise both in Ireland and the USA...

, Gay Woods

Gay Woods

Gay Woods is an Irish singer. She was one of the original members of Steeleye Span.-Early years:Gabriel Corcoran was born in Dublin, a neighbour of her future husband Terry Woods . Gay's elder brothers shared Terry's love of hillbilly music and blues. Gay and Terry performed together in 1963 at...

, Liam Ó Maonlaí

Liam Ó Maonlaí

Liam Ó Maonlaí is an Irish musician best known as a member of the Hothouse Flowers. Ó Maonlaí formed the band in 1985 with his schoolmate Fiachna Ó Braonáin....

, Henry McCullough

Henry McCullough

Henry McCullough Henry McCullough Henry McCullough (born Henry Campbell Liken McCullough, 21 July 1943, Portstewart, Northern Ireland is an Irish guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, who has played guitar in such bands as Sweeney's Men, Spooky Tooth, Paul McCartney & Wings, and The Grease Band. He...

, Siobhán O'Brien

Siobhán O'Brien

Siobhán O'Brien is a singer-songwriter who performs with acoustic guitar and harmonica. O'Brien has performed with Bob Dylan, The San Diego Symphony, The Chieftains and supported such acts as Christy Moore, Donovan, Damien Dempsey, Pete Cummings, Sharon Shannon, Henry McCullough, Maria McKee, Mick...

, Mundy

Mundy

Mundy is an Irish singer-songwriter. 'Mundy' is a nickname given to Enright, as it not only refers to his name Edmund, but it is how he pronounces the word "Monday".-Biography:...

, Tír na nÓg

Tír na nÓg (band)

Tír na nÓg are an Irish folk band formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1969 by Leo O'Kelly and Sonny Condell. They are often considered as one of the first progressive folk bands with other artists like Nick Drake or group like Pentangle...

and others.

Discography

• "Johnny da Vinci" (1987 single)

• High Ace to Heaven (1988)

• Time of Your Life (1997)