End of the ‘Rocky Road’ - after 50 years The Dubliners play their final gig – VIDEOS

Dublin band dubbed “originals who set fire to the world of folk music”

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The beloved Irish band The Dubliners has played their last-ever show before friends, family, and fans in Dublin.

The band, who were formed in O’Donoghue’s pub on Merrion Row in Dublin’s city center 50 years ago, made their last TV appearance on a pre-recorded New Year’s Eve edition of “Later With Jools Holland,” however, their last gig was in the Vicar Street venue on Sunday.

John Sheahan, a member of The Dubliners, told the Irish Independent, “It was a great night and a great way to say goodbye. Commercially, The Dubliners could go on forever but there comes a point where it's time to finish.”

He said the decision to disband The Dubliners had been made by him and Barney McKenna, before his death in April 2012.

The son of founding member Ronnie Drew, Phelim, was in the audience on Sunday night when the band fittingly played “Molly Malone” as their final tune.

Read more: The most requested Irish pub songs of all time – VIDEOS

The original founding members of the band were Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, and Ciaran Bourke. Sheahan described them as “originals who set fire to the world of folk music."

Sheahan added that he “hoped The Dubliners would be remembered for reviving the old ballad tradition and bringing it on to the stage without pretensions.

Here’s The Dubliners playing “Molly Malone” in Vicar St five years ago: Here’s Luke Kelly and The Dubliners performing “The Auld Triangle”:

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