Eddie Butcher spent his whole life in Magilligan, working on farms and later on the roads, and never sang for a living. From 1953 the collector Hugh Shields recorded around two hundred songs from him, many learned from his father and his wife’s family, along with songs he made himself. His singing inspired Len Graham, Frank Harte, Andy Irvine and Paul Brady.
Eddie Butcher
Traditional singer and songmaker; Magilligan
- Born
- 8 May 1900, Magilligan, County Londonderry
- Died
- 8 September 1980
Further reading: Wikipedia · Dictionary of Irish Biography