Biography

Contact:
Barry Doyle 44 711 105367
Barry.doyle21@btinternet.com

From humble beginnings in 1998 a young County Down man from the farming community of Hilltown nestled in the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland. Barry McPolin penned a tongue in cheek type song called “The Mad Cow Song” in response to the pandemic at the time that brought about the mandatory cull of thousands of livestock due to the BSE Crisis or Mad Cow disease as it became known.

Ulster Televison picked up the story and Barry appeared on UTV’s ‘The Kelly Show’ hosted by Gerry Kelly – prime Friday night viewing in Northern Ireland regional TV at that time. Barry appeared as ‘The Singing Farmer’ in a singing tradesman competition that was being hosted by Gerry at that time. Although Barry or the Singing Farmer did not win the competition outright he did secure a recording deal with Dungannon based TC Records and between the record label and Barry, “Farmer Dan” was born. Massive publicity followed on all local and regional television news channels & local and national newspapers were covering his story; an unprecedented hype followed for this new young country singer who was hailed as a hero to the farmers.

Numerous self penned and co-written songs followed including, “ Here Comes Farmer Dan” the title track of his debut album. Also included were “ My little Massey” and “Me and My Dungspreader” co written with life long friend and producer Gerard Dornan. Album sales soared and Farmer Dan became the first recording artist to record a music DVD of the same title “Here Comes Farmer Dan” again a massive success in Ireland , England, Scotland and Wales!

1999 came and Barry formed his own independent record label called Mourne Music Records and another self penned song became the title track of his second studio album. A song again sympathetic to the farmers and farming life called “ Farming Aint the Way it Used To be”. Farmer Dan found his niche market and his continuous onslaught of recording and releasing albums aimed at the farming community catapulted him to become a household name nationwide. His albums all contained great songs born out of life and times in rural Ireland over the years. Songs that the ‘ordinary folk’ like Farmer Dan could relate to and that held a familiarity in lyrics or in melody.

The Farmer Dan band toured the Irish and UK concert and dancing market for many years and by a twist of fate the manager of the late Big Tom recognised Farmer Dan as a very formidable country singer and offered him a management contract. Kevin McCooey wasn’t however interested in plying the Farmer Dan brand and so the new persona Barry Doyle was brought to the airwaves –recording some classic country songs, originals and covers.

The Barry Doyle band was launched to the dancing scene where they enjoyed over ten great years of touring. Over this time another 9 great country albums were recorded and released but Barry never forgot his humble beginnings and the people that brought him to the success he was now enjoying. The comical songs such as “Granny Was a Plucker” “ Me Little Massey”, Horse it inta ya” ,” Dont Touch My Willie”,” The Singing Goat” “ Are You Diggin Em Dillon?” & the tongue twisters like the “The Auctioneer” and “The Grundy County Auction” had become synonomous with Farmer Dan and his alter ego Barry Doyle incorporated those great songs into his repertoire keeping both alias alive on stage.

Barry, also known for his quick wit and simplistic approach to comedy, also crafted himself as a stand up comic and used this to incorporate into his live concert shows that had a very successful run across the UK for many years... billed as “ The Farmer Dan / Barry Doyle Comedy & Country Show” he filled theatres and sent his fans and friends home smiling each night.

Starting out as a singer fronting his own band Barry taught himself to play acoustic rhythmguitar and in later years he has also developed his musical ability as a proficient keyboard player. The current band line-up is a two piece LIVE band with Barry playing keyboards, bass and drums accompanied by a great lead/ pedal steel guitar player.
Live music has seen Barry playing in Spain, Portugal, Australia and also Florida.


Barry is currently at the top of the Irish charts with his COVID song "The New Going Our Is Staying In" His latest single "Doesn't Anybody Say Merry Christmas Anymore" is breaking world wide. The world is indeed a big place and thankfully for Farmer Dan aka Barry Doyle it is home to many thousands of country music and Irish Music lovers and of course many many farmers... so watch this space cos “ Here Comes Farmer Dan”