Andy Cooney, The Cruise of Irish Stars

About this Cruise

Live Shipboard Irish Entertainment
Over 50 Musicians and Performers

Meet the Entertainers
Andy Cooney
Andy-Cooney8-300Andy Cooney, with his outstanding voice and dynamic stage presence has always been a favorite among American and Irish audiences everywhere. His talent and versatility provide the ability to deliver a song directly to the hearts of his audience. Andy is surely one of the greatest singing sensations on the stage today. Christened “Irish America’s Favorite Son” by The New York Times, is a title he truly deserves. From his Sell Out performances at New York’s Carnegie Hall to performing in big and small cities across America, Andy Cooney is a house hold name in every Irish American home. Some of Andy’s latest successes have included his 9th sell out appearance at Carnegie Hall last December with The New York Tenors and The Irish Tenors. Andy will be at Carnegie Hall again on December 9, 2019 with the New York Tenors and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. This will be Andy Cooney’s 22th Annual Cruise of Irish Stars. “It all began in 1998. We’ve gone from a few hundred cruisers to as many as 1700! Let’s keep this great Irish Party at sea going for many years to come!”

Ronan Tynan
tynan2-13-300Ronan Tynan, “Put courage in your dreams, Ronan, and leave the rest to the Man Above, And then you will carve your footprints in the sand.” These words have shaped the remarkable life of the Irish tenor Ronan Tynan – a proud and loving lesson of his mother’s – from his childhood milking cows on a farm in County Kilkenny, Ireland, to an ever-evolving career as a singer, bringing him worldwide fame and admiration that could have existed only in the farthest reaches of those dreams. International audiences met Tynan as a member of The Irish Tenors. Now his singular voice and irresistible appeal have led him to strike out on his own, a decision that seems to have resulted in something far more meaningful than a mere solo career. For more information on Ronan, visit his website.

Tom Comerford
Tom-img040-2.14-300Tom Comerford has been playing music since 1988, and has been fortunate enough to do it as a profession, since 1990. After a vast amount of mileage, countless tours, and three well received CDs with The Whole Shabang, Tom decided that it was time to concentrate on a career closer to home. Tom is still one of the most sought after entertainers in the South East of Ireland, where he works in a solo capacity. Possessing a fine ability to read an audience, Tom’s repertoire is vast and varied, and continually growing. Anyone who has been to a show can recognize that he is equally happy whether singing the old classics or the newer contemporary Irish songs that are destined to become classics. Recording is still a top priority with Tom, having just released “Celtic Connections”; other CDs include “A Tour Of Ireland”, “Face the Music”, “Organized Rhyme”, “Celtic Christmas”, and “Celtic Classics”. The emphasis is on fun, sing-a-long, audience involvement…you don’t need to know a whole bunch of Irish songs to enjoy one of the gigs…Tom Comerford knows more than enough Irish songs for everyone to have a good time. For more information on Tom, visit his website.

The Druids
The Druids are a 4 piece Irish Ballad group based in Co. Kildare. Our music creates a journey back through Ireland’s Historical past and re-lives the real account through song and stories.

The Druids formed in 2009 and have fastly built up a massive audience worldwide, The Show has now been toured in America, England, Scotland, Germany, Belgium and all across the 32 counties of Ireland and continues to be as popular as ever.

The Band refound their passion in 2012 after a short break and with the addition of Mick Dunne found a new lease of life. The Druids are now considered a house hold name on the music touring circuit.

The Druids have recently recorded their 3rd studio album which features 8 original songs, covering a range of issues from Emmigration to Protest songs, also a song to remember the great Nelson Mandela to The Easter Rising of 1916. We also have written a song in support of Celtic Fans “The Green Brigade” called Why cant i be a Rebel.

The Screaming Orphans
Screaming Orphans are four sisters with the good fortune to have been raised in the magic of Bundoran in County Donegal, Ireland.

There is a great tradition of music to be found in Irish homes especially in the Gaeltacht or Irish-speaking areas which have produced the likes of Clannad, Enya and Mairead, Micheal and Triona Ni Dhomhnaill. Our home was no exception. From we were young, we’ve been singing and playing traditional Irish music but when we hit our teenage years we knew it was time to start our own pop rock band.

The Byrne Brothers
The Byrne Brothers are a multi award winning family band and Irish dancers from Dublin and one of the biggest names in traditional Irish music today. They are Luca 17 on Accordion, Finn 15 on Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar, Dempsey 12 on Bodhran & Whistle and Dad, Tommy on Uilleann Pipes, Bagpipes, Fiddle and Guitar. All County Champions on their instruments and Ulster Champion Irish Dancers. Having moved to Orlando Florida in 2018 they became the youngest ever Cast Members of Walt Disney World while performing at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant.

With 30 million views, half a million shares, over 51,000 followers on social media, front cover of The Irish Music Magazine, toured 44 US States and 2 Caribbean Cruises, The Byrne Brothers are making a great name for themselves in America and all over the world as a festival headlining band!.

19th Street Band
Characterized by high energy and strong vocal harmonies, The 19th Street Band bridges the musical traditions of country and roots from Ireland to the Appalachia with their eclectic gypsy-rock spirit leaping from the stage. The charismatic vibe that Caolaidhe Davis (guitar player/vocalist) blends with fiddle/mandolin player/vocalist/partner-in-crime, Meghan Davis, creates a joy-filled chemistry that no crowd can resist. Add to the mix the highly talented rhythm section, Greg Hardin (bass) & Patty Dougherty (drums), and this band will have everyone addicted.

The 19th Street Band has entertained crowds at festivals such as DelFest, Charm City Bluegrass Festival, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Iowa Irish Festival and the Maryland Irish Festival. Overseas, the band has been featured as a regular artist at the Open House Festival in Bangor, Northern Ireland and the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival as they tour annually to Ireland and the UK. Their lively shows have packed the house at venues such as the 9:30 Club, The Hamilton, The Birchmere, State Theatre (DC), The Avalon Theatre, The Empire Music Hall in Belfast, and Hill Country BBQ in NYC & DC. They have had the honor of opening for Asleep at the Wheel, Rodney Atkins, Chuck Mead, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Kitchen Dwellers, Town Mountain and many more.

The band’s newest album, Diamond in the Rough, was chosen as ‘Album of the Month’ on West
Norfolk Radio, selected as a finalist for the DC Wammie Awards and has received air play on numerous radio stations throughout the UK. It includes three songs that were co-written by the late, great Philip Donnelly and John Prine. Donnelly invited the band to record these songs with him in Tipperary, Ireland.

Dee Reilly
Deirdre Reilly beautifully personifies the dramatic influence that Irish music has had on today’s American Country scene. Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts to a mother from County Cork and a father from County Mayo, Ireland, Deirdre began performing at age five. As a teenager she sang with her step-father’s show band and traveled around New England and parts of New York with her own band. Deirdre’s talents were revealed on a national level at age eighteen when she toured the United States with Paddy Noonan’s Irish Variety Show. In 1989 Deirdre auditioned at the Berkeley School Of Music in Boston, Massachusetts for talent scouts from the Opryland Show Park in Nashville, Tennessee. After hearing Deirdre sing, there was little deliberation among the scouts about offering her a contract to perform in their most popular show “COUNTRY MUSIC USA” for the coming summer season. Deirdre eagerly accepted that contract and was well on her way to exploring a world of music that she innately was destined to pursue. That summer led to three consecutive seasons at Opryland Show Park where she quickly began to open many doors in the music industry.

Tommy Mulvihill
Image result for Tommy Mulvihill bio
Tommy was born and raised in the Bronx. He grew up immersed in Irish music. He learned the violin at six years of age and the guitar at seven. His father was a master on the accordion who came from County Clare, Ireland.

The Diddly Idols
The Diddley Idols are the New York based duo with the full band sound. Dave Barckow (Queens, NY) and Louise Barry (Dublin, Ireland). After a chance encounter in 2012, Dave and Louise’s undeniable chemistry made them inseparable and together they formed “The Diddley Idols” in 2013, dropping the “American” from Dave’s previous title. As two lead vocalists, they added Dave’s foot operated drum kit and guitar and Louise’s ukulele and percussion to finish out their sound. A live “tour de force” and “proof that great things do come in small packages!

The Willie Lynch Band
Willie-125The Willie Lynch Band have been singing traditional Irish music in pubs, VFW halls, festivals, church basements, political fund-raisers, cruises, weddings and wakes famously in New Jersey. Born the last of eight children in the Dublin suburb of Cabra West, Lynch was raised by his mother, Lily MacDonald, who sang “Pal of My Cradle Days” around the house, a tribute to a mother’s sacrifices. Willie now sings it in her memory, and of the 60 or more songs in his repertoire it’s the one that makes him sentimental. “He plays traditional Irish songs with a Vegas kind of flair…he’s one of the backbones of Irish culture.” Guitarist Jim Cox and accordionist Paddy Yorke, have been with him 27 years. All the members of the Lynch band can play several instruments, though they don’t bother much with a fiddle or banjo, preferring the sound of an accordion-mandolin-penny whistle combo. For more information on The Willie Lynch Band, visit their website.

Celtic Rovers
Celtic Rovers. This hot duo, consisting of Martin Doyle and Paul McHugh make a great addition to the entertainment line up. Both natives of Ireland, they have combined their outstanding musical talents to firmly establish themselves on the Irish music scene in and around Chicago.

Paul McHugh was born in Belfast in the North of Ireland. By the age of 12 Paul was singing and playing Guitar. His mother got him his first guitar by collecting coupons from cigarette boxes and Paul was on his way to becoming a renowned entertainer. For over 30 years now, Paul has been entertaining audiences all over the United States with his engaging songs and comedy. Some of the acts that Paul has opened for or played with include Makem and Clancy, The Irish Brigade, The Echo Showband, Martin Hayes and Sean Conway.

Martin, an exceptional musician, hails from Dublin Ireland. He is no stranger to the Irish Cruise and has performed on the music scene in both Ireland and America for many years now. He holds Irish and International awards, including 2 all Ireland championships for his performing ability as master of the accordion, and is regarded as an exceptional keyboard artist.

Bill Lewis
BillLewis12Bill Lewis is an acclaimed pianist/accompanist, arranger and performer and has enjoyed a professional career for forty years. He is the Associate Music Director for the Natchez Opera Festival and Head Vocal Coach for the Central City Opera House Festival. Since 2001, Bill has been appearing with Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan in concert. In addition to his concert appearances, Bill also serves as official pianist for several important vocal competitions. As a teacher, Bill has served on the faculties of both the Boston and New England Conservatories and at Rutgers University. He has taught Master Classes across the United States and has a private studio in New York City.

The Catskills Ceili Band
CapeMayCeili-300The Catskills Ceili Band features Traditional Irish Music Hall of Fame members Jimmy Kelly, Sr. who has drummed with the Tulla Ceili Band, along with All-Ireland Accordion Champion John Nolan, and well-known New York Fiddler Bernadette Fee who is a veteran performer and is very active in the traditional music circles.

The Andy Cooney Band

Jimmy Kelly
Jimmy-cr-125Jimmy Kelly plays drums and sings lead and background vocals and occasionally guitar in the Andy Cooney Band. Jimmy lives in Albany, NY and is from an extensive line of Irish musicians. Jimmy recently was in Riverdance on Broadway and took third in the All Ireland for ceili drumming.

Mitch Reilly
Mitch-125Mitch Reilly has been a professional musician for 36 years. Mitch was born into an Irish-American family hailing from Co. Cavan, Ireland. He has performed with many international entertainers including Engelbert Humperdinck, Tiffany and Kelley Hunt as well as television performances on MTV, VH1, BBC, Arsenio Hall, Pat Sajak, The Oak Ridge Boys and Disney Channel. Mitch is a sought after studio musician in Los Angeles and Nashville and has recorded three solo records as well as performed on recordings with Chet McCracken (Doobie Brothers) and The Diane Marino Quartet. He has also headed up his own jazz group and Irish group to perform on radio shows and at festivals in Tennessee and Alabama.

John Nolan
John Nolan was born & raised in the Bronx section of New York. His first introduction to Irish music was listening to his father playing a Baldoni D/C# box. His first formal training came from John Glynn and later Martin Mulvihill, but he later learned and continues to learn from all musicians through sessions, recordings and close personal friendships. John started his musical career in the Catskills in the mid 1970’s with the great fiddler Pat Keogh. In August of 1982, he became the first American to win the Senior All-Ireland Champion on both the two-row and three-row button accordions. John has been featured on over a dozen recordings, including two of his on production – “A Taste for the Traditional” and “A Rake of Reels”. Then in 2009, he was inducted into the Comhaltas Hall of Fame. Besides keeping a busy performance schedule, John currently teaches, sells accordions and has developed a tremendous business – “Buttons & Bellows” –tuning and repairing accordions from his home in Rockland Co. where he lives with his wife Mary, daughter Maura & son Brendan.

PJ Cardinal
Musical Director
PJ Cardinal is from Hicksville NY. He was born into a deep rooted Italian & Irish American musical family. He received his Music Degree at Columbia University. He is a current member of The Tommy Mulvihill Band for over 30 years. PJ also acts as Musical Director for Andy Cooney and The New York Tenors. This accomplished musician has produced and arranged music for TV and Film.