National hero set for big stage

Arriving in the UK from Dublin, he learned how to entertain and to bond with listeners in those small, dark, smoky rooms.

In Sheffield, he sang and played at the Barley Mow Folk Club above the Three Cranes in Queen Street.

And at his last City Hall appearance, in 2007, he recalled playing The Highcliffe Folk and Blues Club, now The Greystones.

The singer, musician and songwriter returns to Sheffield on Sunday, October 9 on his latest UK tour, with a new album, Lily, in his arsenal.

Now aged 71, he will be joined at the City Hall by Declan Sinnott on guitar and Jim Higgins on percussion.

These days Moore is known as Ireland’s greatest living musician - RTE, the country’s national TV and radio broadcaster, anointed him as far back as 2007.

After establishing a name for himself, his reputation grew as frontman of Planxty and Moving Hearts.

His subsequent solo career has taken him to concert halls around the world, but the appeal remains essentially the same,

n For tickets, priced from £29.50, see www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk