Barry Devlin is a screen-writer and a director, but he’s best-known as a musician with the Horslips.
He grew up in Ardboe, Co Tyrone with his six sisters: Anne, Marie, Polly, Valerie, Claire and Helen.
His mother, Eileen, was a teacher and his father Tommy owned a shop and also played for the Tyrone Gaelic football team.
The Horslips were founded in 1970 and in the years that followed, Barry toured Ireland and much of Europe. The band took a break in 1980, and Barry married the journalist Caroline Erskine in the St Stephen’s Green Church in Dublin in October 1982.
His older sister Marie, was the wife of the late Seamus Heaney from 1965, until his passing at the end of August this year.
And these are Barry Devlin’s Musical Heirlooms…
Barry's song choices were:
- Sleepers Awake, composed by Bach
- The Beatles - Love Me Do
There’s a biography of the Horslips coming out on Monday, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the release of their album, The Táin.
'Horslips – Tall Tales: The Official Biography’ is written by Mark Cunningham and it’s available in hardback at a cost of €24.99.
There’s also a new compilation album called 'Biography' that’s just been released (pictured right).
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