The core members were Irish-born siblings Paul McIlroy (leader; keyboards, banjo, guitar, vocals) and Damien McIlroy (lead guitar, vocals), along with Tony Fisher (fiddle/violin, bass guitar, mandolin, penny whistle, flute, vocals). All three had prior experience in Irish showbands.
Tony Fisher (born in Belfast) and a larger group of Irish musicians arrived in South Africa around 1972 after being approached at a gig in northern England by promoter Alan Gooderson. They played at the Lonsdale Hotel in Durban for about a year, then performed in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Seeking higher earnings, the larger group split; one offshoot became the Blarney Brothers (the other was Ballyhoo).
The trio formally launched as a professional act in August 1974 with a six-month contract performing six nights a week at Durbanβs Astra Hotel on Russell Street. They quickly built a following and moved to the Pool Bar at the Lonsdale Hotel, then the Killarney Hotel.
Rise to Prominence and Durban Base
In 1976 they performed as entertainment on the cruise ship Oceanic Independent to Cape Town, stayed to play at the Elizabeth Hotel, signed with the Holiday Inn Group, and later secured a deal with Southern Suns for their national hotel entertainment circuit, touring widely across South Africa.
A notable early highlight came in 1977 when they shared a bill with Pat Boone and his daughter Debbie Boone (the year of her hit βYou Light Up My Lifeβ) during the Boonesβ South African tour, generating significant publicity.
With children reaching school age, the band settled in Durban. They established a long residency at The Barn (the entertainment venue at the Athlone Hotel, later the Riverside Hotel), performing every Wednesday and Friday for roughly 12β13 years and routinely drawing full houses (often cited as averaging around 1,200 people weekly in their peak Barn years). They also became strongly associated with Fatherβs Moustache at the Malibu Hotel (opposite South Beach, popular with airline crews and locals for singalongs) and venues such as the River Gardens in Amanzimtoti.
Their music mixed traditional Irish material (e.g., βWhiskey in the Jar,β βDanny Boy,β βWild Rover,β βDrunken Sailorβ) with crowd-pleasers and novelties, encouraging audience participation. Fans frequently recall the high-energy, inclusive atmosphere.
Broader Career, Media, and Recordings
A major career highlight was the seven-part SABC 3 television documentary series You Donβt Have To Be Irish, filmed over a month in Ireland and screened in South Africa in 1986.
They released multiple albums (sources mention around 13 in total across their career), including titles such as Live at the Barn!, Under the Influence, More Blarney, Instant Party, Dancing on the Tables, Showtime, and compilations of Irish favourites and party collections. A 1984 recording of their 10th-anniversary gig at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban has circulated among fans.
From the early 1990s onward (after ending the regular Barn residency around 1991), they intensified touring across South Africa and neighbouring countries (Zimbabwe, Swaziland/Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi), often covering thousands of kilometres monthly. They also performed internationally in places including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Macau, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Australia, and the UK.
They celebrated milestones such as their 40th anniversary in 2014 with special shows (e.g., β40 Years of Partyingβ at Westville Country Club / Rhumbelow Theatre) and continued performing into the late 2010s, including returns to the former Barn site and appearances at venues like the Barnyard Theatre at Gateway.
Later Years and Legacy
The original lineup continued for nearly five decades with an unbroken performance record, often described as remaining among South Africaβs top party/entertainment acts. During the COVID-19 period, Paul and Damien decided to retire. Tony Fisher then formed Blarney & Son with his son David Fisher, continuing the style of Irish ballads and party music.
Paul McIlroy died on 16 December 2023 at his home in Glenwood, Durban, aged 79, after a diagnosis of Stage 4 lung cancer. He was survived by his wife Maggie, son Sean, and daughter Susan. Damien McIlroy (father of Durban comedian Aaron McIlroy; he had trained as an engineer in Ireland and also performed solo) died in 2025 at age 84 after a period of poor health; he had been living in Underberg with his wife in later years. A memorial was held in Durban North.
The Blarney Brothers left a lasting imprint on Durban nightlife and South African entertainment culture, particularly among those who experienced the vibrant hotel and pub scene of the 1970sβ1990s. Their shows were remembered for fostering community, cross-cultural Irish connections in exile, and pure funβmany couples met at their gigs, and fans across generations still recall specific nights at The Barn, Fatherβs Moustache, or other venues. Their combination of skilled multi-instrumentalism, strong vocals, and relentless audience engagement made them a Durban institution.
