The Irish Rovers  The Irish Rovers were one of the more popular
folk-based singing groups to come out of Ireland in the
mid-'60s, although they had to do it by way of Canada. As
teenagers, founders George Millar (guitar, vocals, banjo) and
Jimmy Ferguson (vocals) were former residents of Northern
Ireland, living in Toronto, when they started singing together
in 1963, originally for cigarette and beer money. It was
Millar's mother who suggested, on hearing the duo rehearse, that
they use the name the Irish Rovers, from the song "The Irish
Rover." The duo of Millar and Ferguson became a trio with the
addition of new immigrant Joe Millar (vocals, accordion),
George's cousin, in 1964, and a quartet when the trio headed to
Calgary, Alberta to add Will Millar (guitar, banjo, vocals) --
George's older brother, who was hosting a children's television
show at the time -- to the lineup. Their original inspiration
came from Tommy Makem & the Clancy Brothers, mixing shared
vocals and somewhat heavier instrumental prowess