Con O'Brien (vocals)
D'Arcy Broderick (fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki)
Larry Martin (bass, vocals)
Ronnie Power (guitar, tin whistle, banjo, bouzouki, vocals)
Eamonn O'Rourke (fiddle; replaced Broderick)

All the members, born of Irish emigres, were workers in the Newfoundland fishing industry before forming the band in 1990 out of the remnants of two Newfie bands - The Descendants and Irish Coffee.

In 1991, the Descendants recorded their first Celtic spirited album, 'Misty Morning Shore', on independent label Duckworth Records. It caught the attention of Warner Music and they signed the band following up with their major label debut 'Look To The Sea' in 1993.

Along with the follow-up, 'Gypsies And Lovers', the Descendants were able to sell nearly 150,000 CDs. Both of these albums were rootsy and traditional in their acoustic approach. 'Gypsies And Lovers' earned the group a Juno Award for 'Best Roots Or Traditional Album'. They were also named 'Entertainer Of The Year' at the 1995 East Coast Music Awards.

Their 1996 album, 'Living On The Edge', featured a shift in their sound causing an internal rift in the band and a parting of ways with D'Arcy Broderick.

He departed just before a tour with Anne Murray and the band scrambled to find a replacement. A friend pointed them in the direction of an Irish fiddler living in New York - Eamonn O'Rourke.

Their next album, which featured O'Rourke - was 1998's 'Rollin' Home'.

Over the next decade the band continued to evolve adding and losing nearly a dozen members, touring every year and releasing albums including the greatest hits package 'So Far So Good' and a Christmas album called 'The Gift'.

In 2004 the band released 'Across The Water' for the New York based Kells Label. The album immediately cruised to the top of the North American Irish Charts, and drew rave reviews from the Irish media.

The 2008 CD, 'Southern Shore', was produced by Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea) and spawned another lengthy tour.

with notes from Michael Greggs.


Singles
1993 Useta Love Her (Duckworth/Warner)

Albums
1991 Misty Morning Shore (Duckworth)
1993 Look To The Sea (Warner)
1994 Gypsies And Lovers (Warner)
1996 Living On The Edge (Warner)
1998 Rollin' Home (Warner)
1999 So Far So Good (Warner)
2000 Blooming Bright Star
2001 Night at the Pub
2002 The Gift
2004 Across The Water (Kells)
2004 We Are The Irish Descendants: Fan Favourites (Kells) CD-KM-7023
2007 Southern Shore

Video


Compilation Tracks