Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Dervish
Group · Ireland · County Sligo · formed 1989
Irish music group
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Also known as Cathy Jordan with Dervish · 德爾維希樂團
Timeline
19 events▣ Album 12+ Member joins 4◆ Formed 1★ Debut release 1− Member leaves 1
1980s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: The Boys of Sligo
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Cathy Jordan joins the band
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Shane McAleer joins the band
source: musicbrainz
· Member leaves
Shane McAleer leaves the band
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Séamus O'Dowd joins the band
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Tom Morrow joins the band
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography488 words · 2 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1376344162
Biography
Dervish is an Irish traditional music group from County Sligo, Ireland which has been described by BBC Radio 3 as "an icon of Irish music". They were formed in 1989 by Liam Kelly, Shane Mitchell, Martin McGinley, Brian McDonagh, and Michael Holmes and have been fronted by singer Cathy Jordan since 1991. They represented Ireland in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, singing a song written by John Waters and Tommy Moran. In 2019 they released an album on the US Rounder Records label called The Great Irish Song Book featuring a selection of classic Irish songs sung by a number of well known singers including Steve Earle, Andrea Corr, Vince Gill, Kate Rusby, Imelda May, Rhiannon Giddens, The Steel Drivers, Brendan Gleeson, Abigail Washburn, and Jamey Johnson. In 2019 they received a lifetime achievement award from the BBC.
History
The band was originally called The Boys of Sligo; an album under this title, with Martin McGinley on fiddle, and with no vocals, was released by Sound Records (SUN CD1).
In 1991 the band were joined by Roscommon-born singer Cathy Jordan and fiddle player Shane McAleer. Dervish's first album, Harmony Hill
Harmony HillSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Apples in Winter3:552Hills of Greenmore4:043The Green Fields of Miltown3:594Bellaghy Fair0:555The Ploughman2:546The Green Mountain4:057Welcome Poor Paddy Home3:478Jig C Jig4:079The Fair Maid3:4110Virginia Set: Paddy O'Briens / The Sandmont Reel / Virginia Reel2:4411A Stór Mo Chroí5:5312Slides and Reels: The Wedding Feast / Kerryslide / Kyle Brack Reel / Byrne's Reel5:01, was released in 1993. In 1994 their second album, Playing with Fire
Playing With FireSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Buckleys Fancy / Name Unknown / Finns Reel3:392Molly and Johnny3:503Last Nights Fun3:154The Wheels of the World3:115Maire Mor3:426I Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her4:257The Hungry Rock4:198Calin Rua4:169The Ash Plant Set3:4710Peigin mo chroi3:4711The Game of Love3:3012Willie Lennox5:0213Let Down the Blade4:03, was released. In 1996 Dervish released At the End of the Day.
Their fourth album, Live in PalmaLive in PalmaSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 36 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Packie Duignan's3:512Intro0:433Spailpín Fánach2:464Slip Jigs3:545Intro1:266Sheila Nee Iyer2:267Intro0:268The Trip to Sligo3:519Intro0:3710The Hungry Rock4:3911Intro0:5912Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí6:5013Molly and Johnny5:1214The Green Mountain4:19Disc 21I Courted a Wee Girl / Josefin's Waltz8:572Intro0:323Drag Her Round the Road4:494Intro0:285Máire Mhór3:396Intro0:417I Buried Me Wife and Danced on Top of Her4:318Intro0:499The Hills of Greanmore4:1310Intro0:4811The Worlds End5:3112Peata Beag4:3813Intro2:4114Pheigín Mo Chroi4:0415Intro1:2716Jim Coleman's5:2517Happy Birthday to Felip0:5118Intro0:5819Edward by Lough Éirn's Shore5:0620Introductions2:0521Killavil Jigs4:4022Aililiu na Gamhna3:34, was recorded in front of a live audience in 1997. In 1998 McAleer left the band and was replaced by Sligo musician Séamie O'Dowd and fiddle player Tom Morrow. Dervish's fifth album, Midsummer's Night
Midsummer's NightSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Midsummer's Night (reels)6:402Seán Bháin (song)3:193Tenpenny Bit (jigs)4:574The Banks of Sweet Viledee (song)3:445Palmer's Gate (reels)5:166Érin Grá mo Chroí (song)4:217Lark on the Strand (jigs and reels)6:148Cairns Hill2:019There was a Maid in her Father's Garden (song)3:1610Abbeyfeale Set (jigs and slides)3:5211An T-Úll (song)2:1812Bold Doherty (song)4:3113Out on the Road (reels)4:1114Red-haired Mary (song)2:37, was released in 1999. In 2001 Dervish released Decade, a compilation of tracks from their first five albums. In 2003 they released Spirit, followed by A Healing Heart in 2006.
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
Dervish performed as the Irish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. They finished last (with five points which were awarded to them by the Albanian back-up jury because of a failed televote), for their performance of "They Can't Stop The Spring".
2012 Boycott of Israel
In the spring of 2012, Dervish was one of two Irish bands that canceled heavily advertised concerts in Israel citing a cultural boycott of Israel. The band's lead vocalist, Cathy Jordan, stated "it was very naïve of me to think our motives would not be misunderstood and misrepresented. So much so it started an avalanche of negativity which has made it impossible for us to make the trip regardless of our motives." Jordan added that "Although I was aware of the concerns with our proposed visit to Israel, I wasn’t quite prepared for the extent of the venom directed at us." Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter accused the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) of "cyberbullying" Dervish into withdrawing from the concerts. IPSG National co-ordinator Kevin Squires stated that the organization had directed its supporters to target Dervish's website, although he denied Jordan's claim that there was any "venom" directed towards the band.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 23 | 84.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 12 | 92.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 19 | 93.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 36 | 75.4th |
| Genres | 3 | 80.4th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (16 release groups · 12 studio albums)
Albums · 12
1990 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks · 46:21
1The Donegal Set: Paddy’s Trip To Scotland / The New Rigged Ship / Larry Redican’s Bow4:262The Dolphin / The Clapton Jigs3:083Thos Byrnes / The Man of Aran2:514Jacksons / The Cliffs of Glencolumbkille4:205The Sligo Set / Martin Wynne's / Lad O'Beirnes / McDermotts3:256The Raphoe Reel / The Chestnut Tree2:367The Boys of Sligo / Monaghan Twig2:368The World's End Set5:549Eddie Kelly's Jigs: The Meelick Team / The Independent3:0910Unknown Reel / Return From Camden Town2:4211The Key of the Convent / Tommie People's Reel3:3912The Dancing Bear / Orreaga3:5113Walsh's Fancy / The Congress / Spoil the Dance3:441993 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 45:05
1Apples in Winter3:552Hills of Greenmore4:043The Green Fields of Miltown3:594Bellaghy Fair0:555The Ploughman2:546The Green Mountain4:057Welcome Poor Paddy Home3:478Jig C Jig4:079The Fair Maid3:4110Virginia Set: Paddy O'Briens / The Sandmont Reel / Virginia Reel2:4411A Stór Mo Chroí5:5312Slides and Reels: The Wedding Feast / Kerryslide / Kyle Brack Reel / Byrne's Reel5:011995 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks · 50:46
1Buckleys Fancy / Name Unknown / Finns Reel3:392Molly and Johnny3:503Last Nights Fun3:154The Wheels of the World3:115Maire Mor3:426I Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her4:257The Hungry Rock4:198Calin Rua4:169The Ash Plant Set3:4710Peigin mo chroi3:4711The Game of Love3:3012Willie Lennox5:0213Let Down the Blade4:031996 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:00:49
1Touching Cloth3:552Ar Éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí6:383Jim Coleman's Set4:164An Spailpín Fánach2:455Packie Duignans3:296Lone Shanakyle5:277Drag Her Round the Road4:408Peata Beag4:329The Trip to Sligo Set3:5610Sheila Nee Iyer2:2411The Kilavill Set4:1112I Courted a Wee Girl4:2513Josefin's Waltz5:3714Thirty Seconds0:3115Eileen McMahon4:031999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 57:17
1Midsummer's Night (reels)6:402Seán Bháin (song)3:193Tenpenny Bit (jigs)4:574The Banks of Sweet Viledee (song)3:445Palmer's Gate (reels)5:166Érin Grá mo Chroí (song)4:217Lark on the Strand (jigs and reels)6:148Cairns Hill2:019There was a Maid in her Father's Garden (song)3:1610Abbeyfeale Set (jigs and slides)3:5211An T-Úll (song)2:1812Bold Doherty (song)4:3113Out on the Road (reels)4:1114Red-haired Mary (song)2:372001 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:05:36
1The Kilavill Set4:092Molly and Johnny4:093The Lark on the Strand6:134The Hills of Greanmore4:045The Worlds End5:336Apples in Winter3:547Peigín mo chroí3:468Josefin's Waltz5:379An Spailpín Fánach2:4610The Hungry Rock4:1911The Banks of the Sweet Viledee3:4512Palmer's Gate5:1513Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí6:4514Jim Coleman's5:212003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:12:34
1John Blessings (Reels): Tinker Hill / Patsy Touhey’s / Mary Bergin’s / John “Watt” Henry’s4:252Jig Songs: An Rógaire Dubh / Na Ceannabháin Bhána / Páidín O Raifeartaí5:123Father Jack (Jigs): The Piper’s Picnic / T’Athair Jack Walsh / Pull The Knife And Stick It Again / The Banks Of Lough Gowna5:574The Fair-Haired Boy (Song)3:575Siesta Set (Reels): Kevin Burke’s / McCabe’s / The Siesta / Gabe O’Sullivan’s4:386The Soldier Laddie (Song)5:387Beauties of Autumn (March & Hornpipe): The Beauties Of Autumn / An Paistin Fionn8:258The Lag’s Song5:069Boots of Spanish Leather (Song)5:3010O’ Raghailligh’s Grave (Air)2:4511Swallow’s Tail (Reel)4:1412The Cocks Are Crowing (Song)4:4613Whelan’s (Jigs): Trounsdell’s Cross / Whelan’s12:012007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 55:30
1Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves3:202The Coolea Jigs: The Rakes of Clonmel / The Cul Aodh Jig / Out on the Road4:283My Bride and I5:354The Cat She Went A-Hunting3:575The Bealtine Set: The Acorn Reel / Comb Your Hair and Curl It / Last Nights Fun / The Ballina Lass5:156Grainne3:177Heading Home: Heading Home / Errew Lane / Lavins Favourite4:448The Queen and the Soldier4:569The Master's Return: The Master's Return / Dunrobin Castle / The Boys of Tulla3:3810Lord Levett6:0811The Jolly Tinker: The Forgotten Fling / The Jolly Tinker5:4112Crucán Na bPáiste: The Burial Place of The Children4:312013 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 53:01
1The Green Gowned Lass4:522Baba Chonraoi4:003Maggie's Lilt5:114The Lover's Token4:435The Rolling Wave4:326Shanagolden4:497The Corner House4:268The Banks of the Clyde5:399Handsome Polly-O3:0410Harp and Shamrock3:3611Snoring Biddy3:0312The Thrush in the Storm5:062014 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:05:36
1Midsummer’s Night6:422Snoring Biddy3:053The Coolea Jigs4:304Bold Doherty4:335Killavil Jigs4:186The Ploughman2:567Maggie’s Lilt5:138Cailan Rua4:189Packie Duighnan’s3:3110Boots of Spanish Leather5:3211Buckleys Fancy3:4112Lord Levett6:1013The Swallow’s Tail4:1614Red Haired Mary2:3915Welcome Poor Paddy Home4:122019 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:03:15
1The Rambling Irishman4:572There’s Whiskey in the Jar6:023Molly Malone3:424The Galway Shawl5:055She Moved Through the Fair4:046The Rocky Road to Dublin3:177Down by the Sally Gardens4:368On Raglan Road5:249Dónal Óg6:3110The Fields of Athenry4:4611The May Morning Dew4:1012The West Coast of Clare5:2613The Parting Glass5:15The Great Irish Songbook Vol 2: Poets & Storytellers
2026 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 47:57
1Passage West4:562Jackie4:553Rock the Machine4:554Blue Is the Eye3:565The Broad Majestic Shannon4:256Land of My Other4:067One Irish Rover3:478Leave a Light On3:589Tobar an tSaoil (The Well of the World)3:4710As I Leave Behind Neidin3:2811The Town I Loved So Well5:44
Album · 4
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Live in PalmaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 36 tracks · 1:52:26Disc 1 1Packie Duignan's3:51 2Intro0:43 3Spailpín Fánach2:46 4Slip Jigs3:54 5Intro1:26 6Sheila Nee Iyer2:26 7Intro0:26 8The Trip to Sligo3:51 9Intro0:37 10The Hungry Rock4:39 11Intro0:59 12Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí6:50 13Molly and Johnny5:12 14The Green Mountain4:19 Disc 21I Courted a Wee Girl / Josefin's Waltz8:57 2Intro0:32 3Drag Her Round the Road4:49 4Intro0:28 5Máire Mhór3:39 6Intro0:41 7I Buried Me Wife and Danced on Top of Her4:31 8Intro0:49 9The Hills of Greanmore4:13 10Intro0:48 11The Worlds End5:31 12Peata Beag4:38 13Intro2:41 14Pheigín Mo Chroi4:04 15Intro1:27 16Jim Coleman's5:25 17Happy Birthday to Felip0:51 18Intro0:58 19Edward by Lough Éirn's Shore5:06 20Introductions2:05 21Killavil Jigs4:40 22Aililiu na Gamhna3:34 | Live | 1997 | |
| 2005 | A Healing HeartSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 55:161I courted a wee girl / Josefin's waltz8:32 2A stór mo croí5:51 3Boots of spanish leather5:30 4Willie lennox5:02 5Érin grá mo chroi4:21 6Ar éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí6:35 7The fair-haired boy3:57 8Lone shanakyle5:26 9I hope you still dance4:25 10Josefin's waltz (reprise)5:37 | Compilation | 2005 | |
| 2005 | Live at Johnny Fox'sSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks · 57:071Rathlin Island / The Graff Spree / Last Night's Fun (reels)3:47 2Pogin Mo Chroi3:56 3My Mind Will Never Be Easy / The Ash Plant (slip jigs)3:50 4Maire Mhór4:23 5Kevin Burkes (reels)3:36 6The Hungary Rock (slow reel)4:27 7A Stór Mo Chroi5:54 8The Fair Maid3:48 9C Jig3:24 10Johnny & Molly4:49 11I Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her / Jerry Holland's / John McKenna's (jigs)4:54 12Welcoming Poor Paddy Home5:00 13Kerry Slides / The Kyle Brack Rambles / Unknown (slides & reels)5:19 | Live | 30 November 2005 | |
| 2010 | From Stage to StageSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 22 tracks · 1:10:021The Swallow’s Tail5:28 2Intro3:02 3Lord Levett6:20 4The Bealtine Set5:26 5The Masters Return3:42 6Intro0:37 7I Courted a Wee Girl4:15 8Josefin’s Waltz4:24 9Intro0:36 10Slangpolska efter Byss-Calle2:43 11The Coolea Jigs4:29 12The Cat She Went a Hunting3:58 13Intro1:03 14The Boots of Spanish Leather5:40 15Intro0:12 16John Blessing’s5:08 17Intro0:44 18Red Haired Mary2:39 19Intro0:34 20Gold in Them Hills4:14 21Intro0:31 22Apples in Winter4:17 | Live | 2010 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Dervish head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 23 | 84.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 12 | 92.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 19 | 93.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 36 | 75.4th |
| Genres | 3 | 80.4th |
Awards & honours
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathy Jordan | 1991 | present | |
| Shane McAleer | 1991 | 1998 | |
| Séamus O'Dowd | 1998 | present | |
| Tom Morrow | October 1998 | present | |
| Brian McDonagh | — | present | |
| Liam Kelly | — | present | |
| Michael Holmes | — | present | |
| Shane Mitchell | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Nagi BY SA · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ESC_2007_Ireland_-_Dervish_-_They_can%27t_stop_the_spring.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5084f6bf-c817-4ad2-950b-8caf8677fa0bdiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5084f6bf-c817-4ad2-950b-8caf8677fa0bcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q841481genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q841481seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dervish_%28band%29biography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dervish_%28band%29
Why this artist is in the database
- List of folk musicians
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Indrek Galetin [ dead link ] Wayback Machine archive link · Nagi BY SA · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q841481 · MusicBrainz: 5084f6bf-c817-4ad2-950b-8caf8677fa0b
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