Bio

Noel McLoughlin, acclaimed recording artist, talented multi instrumentalist, singer and interpreter of songs, ballads and Irish music was born 1955 in Limerick in the Southwest of Ireland. With a career spanning four decades his broad repertoire consists not only of Irish Folk, but also Scottish, English, American Folk and Country Music as well as music from the 30s to the 70s ……..and beyond. The magic he creates during his performances and recordings are down to his unique musicianship, skillful guitar playing and expressive and melodic voice.

Growing up in family of 10 children, he was influenced by a diverse variety of music. Noels’ parents exposed him to arias of Bizet’s 'Carmen', Franz Lehar’s operettas by popular tenors like Richard Tauber, Joseph Locke and Mario Lanza, as well as musicals like 'The Sound of Music', “

'My Fair Lady', 'Porgy and Bess', 'Westside Story' and 'Oklahoma' all of which nourished his love for music, melody and harmonies.

At the same time his older siblings brought pop music by the Beatles, Kinks, Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Everly Brothers, the Supremes, Simon and Garfunkel, Elvis, Tom Jones, Neil Diamond, Leonard Cohen and Roger Whittaker into the house, as well as international Folk and Country music by Marty Robbins, Pete Seeger, The Carter Family, Paul Robeson, John Denver, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

Mike McLoughlin, a school friend, showed Noel his first guitar chords at the age of 15 and he was hooked. Every spare minute was spent practicing on an old guitar or whenever possible. Even school lessons were often spent ‘picking’ with his fingers on the school desk.

Around that time an exciting new development happened in Irish Music. The Johnston’s, De Dannan, Clannad, The Chieftains, Planxty The Bothy Band, The Furey Brothers and The Dubliners exploded on to the scene of Irish folk music with new exciting arrangements of jigs, reels and ballads. Noel was one of the new generation of folk enthusiasts, the banjo became the new love of his life and he soon developed into a talented, skilful player. Along with the guitar and banjo he mastered the mandolin, waldzitter, bouzouki, bodhran and to a lesser extent the tin whistle. Musicians like Paul Brady, Andy Irvine, Mick Moloney and Donal Lunny became his idols.

Noel joined groups including The Molly Maguires and Dalriada with whom he won numerous competitions. During any free time Noel played in sessions and festivals, in fact he played at the very first of the now renowned Willy Clancy Week in Miltown Malbay Co. Clare. It was during this period that Noel started his career as a soloist in ‘Wilsons’ in Miltown Malbay.

Irish Folk had become very popular in Germany in the mid 70’s and in 1977 Noel gave up his day job as a civil servant and joined the group Cromlach seeking musical fame and fortune in Germany. Filled with enthusiasm and anticipating adventure the group moved to Hamburg. It was here that he met his future wife Uta.

Cromlach’s energetic performances of jigs, reels, step-dances and melodic multi-harmonic singing delighted audiences in East and West Germany, Holland, Denmark, Luxemburg and Austria. Over time and with changes in the lineup, Celtic Tradition emerged. Touring primarily in West Germany and America 1984 saw the release of his first album with Celtic Tradition ‘I have waited for many a Night and Day’. Noel, now proud father of daughter Fiona, also continued to concentrate his efforts on a career as a soloist in Ireland and West Germany .

In the early 80’s Noel had great success at venues like ’The Crosses of Annagh’ near Miltown Malbay and ‘Ketts’ in Kilkee . The singles'No use for him' (written by Eric Bogle) and 'The field behind the plough' (written by Stan Rodgers) were released, followed by numerous radio and TV appearances, featuring in RTE’s ‘Festival Folk’ series which had also included Christy Moore and The Chieftains. Regular gigs in student venues like ’The Hurlers’ and ’The Stables’ amongst others along with regular tours abroad increased his popularity.

In 1985 his son Brian was born and in the late 1980’s Noel moved back to Hamburg with his family for several years to pursue recording opportunities. It was at this time that Noel recorded and released four albums under the ARC label which became hugely successful - 'Twenty Best of Ireland', 'Twenty Best of Scotland', 'Christmas and Winter songs from Ireland' and 'Noel McLoughlin Best of Ireland'. In fact November 2001 Noel was awarded a Gold Disc in recognition of his record sales by ARC ('20 Best of Ireland' being their best ever selling album).

Back in his studio in Ireland Noel continued recording albums - 'No Matter Where I Wander', 'Ireland the Songs Vol. I & Vol. II' and'Ireland the Music' which were also released under the ARC label.

In the early 90s Noel, Denis Carey and Denis Allen ('Limerick you’re a Lady') formed the group Allen, Carey and McLoughlin releasing the single and album 'Late starters in Love'. Numerous radio and TV appearances followed, as well as extensive tours in Germany, Austria, Holland, Canada and America appearing with, among others, The Furey Brothers and Davie Arthur, Golden Bough, and The Dubliners .

In 2008 Noel appeared in ‘Weihnachten in Europa’ (Christmas in Europe), which was broadcast by Bayrischer Rundfunk (Bavarian TV) on Radio and TV Stations around Germany and Europe, performing the songs 'Sweet Carnloch Bay' and 'The Seven Joys of Mary'.

Noels’ most recent albums Noel McLoughlin Live! and From Clare to Here are exclusively available from this site!