Jimmy Crowley on early days in Douglas, touring with the Clancys, and drinking with Katty Barry

As Jimmy Crowley releases his 15th album, he tells Richard Fitzpatrick about some of his formative years in Cork

 Jimmy Crowley in Cobh cycling his high nelly, which he bought in 1968. Picture: Chani Anderson

Jimmy Crowley grew up in the 1950s outside Douglas, on the outskirts of Cork City. His father had crossed the Lee River to live, having grown up on the north side of the city, where opera reined. Crowley remembers being mesmerised by the black box his father attached to their old valve radio. It had a lovely smell and it could create magic once the needle inside was lifted and put on a vinyl record.

“My father would be crying, sitting over in his chair with his newspaper and his eyes looking up towards heaven, at the crescendos from the music,” says Crowley. “I started to learn Italian. I’d be outside with my friends singing arias. It induced tonality into my body. I started to sing in tune. It was a good start – to get all those arias at an early age by rote.