The Mountain of the Women: Memoirs of an Irish Troubadour

by Liam Clancy

In an irresistible tale of a life lived fully, if not always wisely, Liam Clancy, of the legendary Irish group the Clancy Brothers, describes his eventful journey from a small town in Ireland in the 1930s into the heart of the New York music scene in the 1950s and ’60s.
Following in the grand tradition of such Irish memoirs as Angela’s Ashes and Are You Somebody? , Liam Clancy relates his life’s story in a raucously funny and star-studded account of moving from provincial Ireland to the bars and clubs of New York City, to the cusp of fame as a member of Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers. Born in 1935, the eleventh out of as many children, young Liam was a naive and innocent lad of the Old Country. His memories of childhood include bounding over hills, streams, and the occasional mountain, getting lost, and eventually found, and making mischief in the way of a typical Irish boy.

As an aimless nineteen-year-old, Clancy met a strange and wonderfully energetic lover of music, Ms. Diane Guggenheim, an American heiress. She and a colleague from America had set out to record regional Irish folk music, and their undertaking led them to Carrick-on-Suir in the shadow of Slievenamon, "The Mountain of the Women," where Mammie Clancy had been known to carry a tune or two in her kitchen. Guggenheim fell for young Liam and swept him along on her travels through the British Isles, the American Appalachians, and finally Greenwich Village, the undisputed Mecca for aspiring artists of every ilk in the late 1950s.

Clancy was in New York to become an actor. But on the side, he played and sang with his brothers, Paddy and Tom, and fellow countryman Tommy Makem, in pubs like the legendary White Horse Tavern. In the heady atmosphere of the Village, Clancy’s life was a party filled with music, sex, and McSorley’s. His friendships with then-unknown artists such as Bob Dylan, Maya Angelou, Robert Redford, Lenny Bruce, Pete Seeger and Barbra Streisand form the backdrop of the charming adventures of a small-town boy making it big in the biggest of cities.

In music circles, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem are known as the Beatles of Irish music. The band’s music continues to play on jukeboxes in pubs and bars, in living rooms of folk music fans, and in Irish American homes throughout the country. Liam Clancy’s lively memoir captures their wild adventures on the road to fame and fortune, and brings to life a man who never lets himself off the hook for his sins, and happily views his success as a blessing.

Genres: Memoir, Ireland, Music, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Audiobook

304 pages, Hardcover

First published February 19, 2002

Reviews

[Vasha7 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful autobiography, frank and personal, lively and funny, giving due space to the show business world that made the author famous but rarely simply namedropping -- I found the portraits of the people I'd heard of just as vivid as those I hadn't. Liam Clancy depicts two cultures, the rigid, small-town Ireland of his youth, and the turbulent cities of America in the fifties and sixties, and his own mental, moral, and artistic development, as he changes to someone his mother barely recognizes. Sometimes serious, often exhilarating, this book can be recommended to far more people than just folk music fans.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We downloaded this book from audible.com and listened to the voice of Liam Clancy reading his own story. Oh my... It was shear poetry! It wasn't just a reading, it was a PERFORMANCE. He was, after all, a stage actor before the singing group became famous. The audiobook is also interspersed with singing so it is a treasure for fans. Now I want to buy the paper version of the book so that I can highlight some of the things he said. No people love language and poetry like the Irish!

[Mark Zumpano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clancy’s accent and writing style (which at times was purely magical) made this story come to life. I couldn’t stop listening. Folky, lovely, witty, mischievous; a few words to describe the troubadour’s memoir and music. Original tunes are scattered throughout as song breaks. Often there is Irish instrumental backing to Clancy’s beautiful prose. It is delightful.

I very much enjoyed reading about Clancy’s time in New England, specifically his summers in Deep River, Cedar Lake, Route 80, and Old Saybrook; all areas close to where I grew up and spent time in Connecticut.

Clancy was called one of the greatest anthem singers by Bob Dylan. His impact on the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early 60’s was profound, influencing Dylan and many others from that era. Clancy is a pure Irish treasure and this memoir is a must read. Among my all time favorite memoirs.

[Bob Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shy, Liam Clancy, the youngest of eleven children, grew up in a blindly un-questioning Catholic home in a small, insular town in Ireland. Even though he became the protoge' of the pre-jet-setting, somewhat unbalanced, suicide-attempting, heiress, Diane Guggenheim, who took him in tow around Ireland, Appalachia, the Village and New England; even though he wound up in Greenwich Village, that epi-center of the Beat Generation and folk music, during the heady 1950's and '60's; even though he was involved in the usual shenanigans along the way to fame (being saved from full-blown alcoholism only by an ulcer he suffered from childhood that prevented him from drinking too much); and even though he and his brothers, Tom and Paddy, and his close friend, Tommy Makem, felt the white-hot spot light of fame, Clancy managed to keep his sanity and sense of balance. He never seemed to lose his innocence and sense of awe along the way. He remained shy, sensitive and poetic, but he was able to step onto the stage by transforming himself into the character of the play, in which he was cast, or by creating a persona while singing with the Clancy Brothers. He never seemed to get too full of himself, whether in America or back home in Ireland. He always seemed a little star-struck to me. Refreshing.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liam Clancy was a great performer, a talented musician, and an inspiring man. Sadly, instead of focusing on Clancy's career in music, The Mountain of Women focuses much more on his acting career and his rowdy love-life, all across a confusing chronology. I know Liam Clancy as a member of one of the Irish folk revival's most important musical groups, yet he rarely mentions music. I can't help but be disappointed.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

B Clancy - Autobiographical memoir of Liam Clancy's youth in Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland; his song collecting journeys with his patroness, American heiress Diane Guggenheim; and his struggling years as an actor in Greenwich Village while the singing group The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem gained success.

[Shawn Bigley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam Clancy's 'The Mountain of the Women' is "Memoirs of an Irish Troubadour". It covers Liam's life from his birth in 1935 to the early '60s and offers a poignant and captivating exploration of human emotions through lyrical storytelling. With evocative prose and a deep understanding of human nature, Clancy takes us on a transformative journey that delves into the complexities of love, loss, and resilience. The novel's vivid imagery and heartfelt characters make it a touching and memorable read for those seeking a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant literary experience. I listened to the audiobook version narrated by the author and highly recommend it, as we are treated to some of the wonderful Irish tenor of Liam. A must-read for any folk music fan!

[Frederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want Liam Clancy to write the follow-up. I think his contribution to music is major and he has many more storied to tell.

[Mary Fernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking to find the musician behind the man and bands, you'll be disappointed. If you want to learn about the singer's childhood and his roots in Carrick-on-Suir and his birth position in the family and how it influenced Liam the man, you won't be. Throughout the entire book, I felt like a thirsty traveler getting one sip of water at each stop who kept crying out for more. I was hoping to learn more of his musicianship, his relationship with Tommy Makem and how he put together a show. I wanted to learn about his guitar and why it seemed as if he played a different one at each performance but there was never a mention other than how he came to purchase his first one. We learn about his female relationships and his 7 children, 3 outside of his marriage but even those were just superficially mentioned. I have idolized Liam since I met him as a child by accident at the Newport Folk Festival and it pains me to say that I learned more about him then than I did from the entire book. He had so much to offer but much of his life seemed to be influenced by bad business decisions, tax issues and financial burdens that led to breakups with his brothers at one time or another. Artists of his level of genius can be forgiven for a multitude of difficulties relating to people because their gifts can be overwhelming and hard to understand but we don't get a glimpse into how he even felt possessing the enormous talents he had. In the end, I didn't learn anything more about this extraordinary troubadour than I knew before I read it. Regardless, the world is a better place for the years he shared himself with us and the truth? I still adore him anyway.

[Niall Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up not far from Carraig on Suir, Maken and Clancy were a big part of my childhood but I knew little of their early story so I really enjoyed this extremely readable memoir. I did feel, as I've seen others say, that he didn't say much about the actual music and songs themselves, it certainly isn't a music biog. Then again he grew up steeped in music so I can see why compared to the fascinating chances of fortune that presented themselves an exposition of the songs origins etc.. would have been really for another books entirely.

I thoroughly enjoyed his descriptions of childhood, the inherited memories of the black and tan era, the varying experiences of a catholic education and the rambling adventures across an Ireland that many Irish people hadn't gotten to see in a time before everyone had cars.

I regularly walk up Slievenamon (the women's mountain) but the next time I'll think of Liam, look out over to the Commeraghs, Tory hill off to the east, below the Suir valley and the castle of Kilcash where Liam's 18th century's namesake is buried, hum the air of ar éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This goes down as my favorite book of all time. Liam Clancy writes with heartbreaking honesty and exquisite form. I have always loved his music and agree with Bob Dylan who called him the best ballad singer he had ever heard.

[Richard Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irish eyes

A truly entertaining and educational memoir, poetic in imagery and cadence, sad and funny as only life can be. And Irish through and through. A must read.

[Melissa Maley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could listen to Liam Clancy read the phone book.

[Andrew Logue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this memoir, reminded me of happy childhood summers spent in co tipperary with my grandma. Well written and a magical story

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Clancy Brothers came on the scene when I was a child, and my strong desire to hear The Boys Won't Leave the Girls Alone repeatedly in its entirety is responsible for my learning to operate my father's hi-fi at the age of four. Many decades have passed, and the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem traveled with me through them all.

I don't know why I haven't read Liam Clancy's autobiography before now. Perhaps listening to Liam Clancy's The Band Played Waltzing Mathilda prompted me to search for my own copy of the book. My esteem of the man has only increased since reading the book (I knew very little about their personal lives).

This story of one of the greatest balladeers ever recorded will take you throughout the beautiful, sometimes brutal, Irish islands, on various sea craft and the recording and entertainment industry.

One comes away appreciating all the dedication and hard work put into his talent as well as his tremendous love and respect he had for his family and Ireland. God bless ye, Liam.

[Gene Cummins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have heard, played, and sung Liam's music since the 1950's. I've even met him a few times. But I knew him only as the consummate singer, the balladeer. Reading "The Mountain of the Women" I came to know him as a poet, as an actor, and as a human being. Since his family home was Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, just down the road from my Dad's ancestral home, reading his descriptions of the countryside filled in some blanks for me, made me remember some places I've been but didn't really know.

The book is well-written and gave me the most enjoyable reading experience I've had in a long time.

[Tomkeese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autobiography of Liam Clancy of the Clancy Brothers singing group. He tells a good story of his childhood in Ireland, his early struggles as an actor, and their unexpected success as a singing group.

[Nadine Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

this had a lot of charm. I had never known how the Clancy brothers had wanted to be actors rather than singers. Liam shows a talent for writing and its a shame that this autobiography stops at the point where they became famous, and wont ever now go any further.

[Dgille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great personal memoir of a great Irish folk singer

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, this was my fourth re-read.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can plow through the thick bit of Irish history at the beginning, you'll be okay. Very entertaining bio.

[Joshua O'connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, even when it's about mundane events Clancy is a masterful storyteller.

[Edward Renehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb memoir by one of Ireland's greatest ballad singers. Loved it.

[Mary Corsaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good audio book. Love the way he reads the poetry and sings. Interesting story.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

worth reading

enjoying this...not brilliant writing but full of great pictures and observations

[Phil Schafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I great read for 60's culture or Irish history.