Patrick Joseph McGuigan (8 December 1939 – 17 March 2014), known as Paddy Joe McGuigan, was an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

traditional musician and songwriter who played for some years with

The Barleycorn The Barleycorn (also written as The Barley Corn) was an Folk music of Ireland, Irish traditional music and rebel music band. The band, consisting of Paddy McGuigan, Liam Tiernan, Brian McCormick and John Delaney, was formed in mid-1971 in Belfas ...

folk group. He wrote a number of well-known Irish rebel songs, including "

The Men Behind the Wire "The Men Behind the Wire" is a song written and composed by Paddy McGuigan of the The Barleycorn, Barleycorn folk group in the aftermath of Operation Demetrius. The song was recorded by the Barleycorn in Belfast (produced by Billy McBurney) and p ...

", "

The Boys of the Old Brigade The Boys of the Old Brigade is an Irish rebel song written by Paddy McGuigan about the Irish Republican Army of the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), and the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. Lyrics The song describes a veteran of th ...

", "

Irish Soldier Laddie Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

", " Freedom Walk" and " Bring Them Home". McGuigan, a native of

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

, wrote "The Men Behind the Wire" in the aftermath of

internment Internment is the imprisonment of people, commonly in large groups, without charges or intent to file charges. The term is especially used for the confinement "of enemy citizens in wartime or of terrorism suspects". Thus, while it can simpl ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

. The song describes raids by British soldiers and the "men behind the wire" refers to those held without charge or trial at Long Kesh prison camp,

Magilligan prison HMP Magilligan is a medium security prison run by the Northern Ireland Prison Service situated near Limavady, County Londonderry. It was first opened in May 1972 and comprised eight Nissen huts on the site of an army camp. The prison was di ...

camp and on board the Maidstone Prison Ship. McGuigan himself was picked up in a later round of internment. McGuigan released his only solo album with Dolphin Records (DOLM 5012) in 1975, ''My Country, My Songs and Me''. Along with Dermot O'Brien, he also produced the album, ''The Price Of Justice'', featuring Kathleen Largey of the Flying Column Music Group. McGuigan died on 17 March 2014 following a short illness.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:McGuigan, Paddy 1939 births 2014 deaths Irish folk musicians Irish songwriters Musicians from Belfast