b. 1955, Co. Louth, Eire. Singer-songwriter and guitarist Halpin began playing clubs at the age of 15 and, after an early apprenticeship in Europe and Britain, he teamed up with Tom McConville (b. 6 November 1950, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England; violin/vocals) in 1979. After two albums, and an appearance at the 1981 Cambridge Folk Festival, they split in 1982. McConville went on to join Dab Hand with Tom Napper while Halpin went back to Dublin. Halpin has appeared at the Fairport Convention festival in Cropredy, Oxfordshire, and other folk festivals both at home and abroad. The Man Who Lived In Bottles was Halpin’s first solo release after the split with McConville. Having kept a somewhat low profile during the late 80s, apparently owing to contractual difficulties, Halpin re-emerged on a new label, Round Tower Music, for 1991’s Mission Street. On this release he was backed by performers of the quality of Davy Spillane, and Martin Allcock of Fairport Convention. Always a writer of quality songs, Mission Street lived up to the high standards set by earlier Halpin releases. He maintained a prolific work rate in the 90s and into the new millennium, touring extensively throughout the world and issuing a steady stream of solo and duo albums. Many of his songs have been recorded by other artists.