The raucous life of Liam Clancy, the last surviving member of iconic Irish band The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, who at their height, were out-selling The Beatles, and playing for JFK and the Ed Sullivan Show. The band changed the face of Irish popular music and influenced artists as disparate as Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and The Pogues. But for all their fame, their story remains largely untold. This darkly revealing portrait goes behind the mask of the performer and delves deep into the psyche of Liam Clancy. Featuring unseen archive footage, audio recordings and guest appearances.
Film Crew
- : Alan Gilsenan
- : Richard Kendrick
- : Ray Harman
- : Kieran Horgan
- : Oliver Fallon
- : Crossing the Line Films
- : Element Pictures Distribution
Technical Information
- Color
- English
Keywords
Images
Videos
Trailer
A portrait of Liam Clancy, the last surviving member of The Clancy Brothers, a man Bob Dylan called "the best ballad singer I ever heard in my life"...-
The Yellow Bittern doesn’t quite manage to make the Clancys hip, but it establishes the last upright member as a serious figure with a remarkable tale to tell. We owe it to him to listen.
Donald Clarke, The Irish Times -
As is to be expected from a man who chose Homer over hurling as a childhood pursuit, Clancy brings a lyrical sensibility to his reminiscences… In short, a rewarding opportunity to get up close and personal with a bona fide national treasure.
Paul Mac Kenna, The Irish Independent -
Director Gilsenan shoots Clancy, perched on a stool, guitar on his lap, in a large hall as he watches former glories on a large screen. Clancy is the perfect interviewee - honest, open and unafraid to get into the nitty gritty of his life, his women, his drink problems, and in-band fighting. Clancy himself narrates as he takes us from growing up in Tipperary and his move to Greenwich Village, New York in the '50s.
Gavin Burke, BigScreen.ie -
The Yellow Bittern is his life story, told by himself in an intimate setting: two cameras, a stage, a stool and a guitar…. Refreshingly, the man has nothing to hide.
Paul Lynch, Tribune Arts -
Alan Gilsenan’s wonderful film not only represents a tremendous tribute to Liam, Tommy, Paddy and Tommy Makem but also ensures that the group’s trailblazing legacy will live on for decades to come.For let there be no doubt: “Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days.”
Dermot Keyes, The Munster Express -
Before Van Morrison, before U2, Ireland (and the world) had The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. A fine new documentary by Alan Gilsenan marks out the group's sole survivor, Liam Clancy, as a storyteller of the highest calibre - and what a story.
Donald Clarke, The Irish Times
Very good documentary.. learned an awful lot more about Liam Clancy's life and was kept interested - and I wouldn't even be a folk music fan.