Paddy McGuigan

Patrick Joseph McGuigan (8 December 1939 – 17 March 2014), known as Paddy Joe McGuigan, was an Irish traditional musician and songwriter who played for some years with The Barleycorn folk group. He wrote a number of well-known Irish rebel songs, including "The Men Behind the Wire", "The Boys of the Old Brigade", "Irish Soldier Laddie", "Freedom Walk" and "Bring Them Home".

Biography Born in Belfast, McGuigan was the son of John and Josephine McGuigan and grew up in a musically influenced household. His neighbours, the McPeake family, were renowned traditional musicians, helping to shape his early musical career. McGuigan was an accomplished harmonica player, even being crowned the best in Europe during his teens, and also played the guitar. in Northern Ireland. The song describes police raids in Northern Ireland by British security forces during the Troubles, while the "men behind the wire" refers to those interned without trial at HM Prison Maze (known as "Long Kesh"), HM Prison Magilligan and onboard HMS Maidstone. McGuigan himself was arrested and interned for three months after writing the song. Along with Dermot O'Brien, he also produced the album, The Price Of Justice, featuring Kathleen Largey of the Flying Column Music Group.

After relocating to Dublin in the mid-1970s, McGuigan worked as a composer and arranger for RTÉ and BBC radio programmes. He released his only solo album, My Country, My Songs and Me, in 1975. He continued to contribute to Irish folk music throughout his life. McGuigan died on 17 March 2014 following a short illness, leaving behind his wife Cecilia, daughter Áine, son-in-law Robert and grandchildren Murron and Cara.