Band members

Paddy Moloney is the band's founder and leader, and composes or arranges most of the band's music. While the band's members changed numerous times in the band's early history, the membership solidified in 1979 when Matt Molloy replaced Michael Tubridy. From then until 2002, members included:

• Paddy Moloney - uilleann pipes, tin whistle, button accordion, bodhrán
• Matt Molloy - flute, tin whistle
• Kevin Conneff - bodhrán, vocals
• Seán Keane - fiddle, tin whistle

Former members

• Martin Fay - fiddle, bones (retired in 2002)
• Derek Bell - Irish harp, keyboard instruments, oboe (died in 2002 due to complications following minor surgery)
• David Fallon - bodhrán
• Ronnie McShane - percussion
• Peadar Mercier - bodhrán, bones
• Seán Potts - tin whistle, bones, bodhrán
• Michael Tubridy - flute, concertina, tin whistle

Discography

• The Chieftains (1959) Ceirnini Claoais Claddag Records (Ireland)
• (1963)
• (1969)
• (1971)
• (1973)
• (1975)
• (1976)
• (1977)
• The Chieftains Live! (1977)
• (1978)
• (1979)
• The Chieftains 10: Cotton-Eyed Joe (1981)
• The Year of the French (1982)
• The Grey Fox (1982) (soundtrack to The Grey Fox)
• Concert Orchestra (1982)
• The Chieftains in China (1985)
• (1986)
• (1987)

• In Ireland (1987) (with James Galway)
• (1988) (with Van Morrison)
• The Tailor Of Gloucester (1988)
• (1989)
• Over the Sea To Skye: The Celtic Connection (1990) (with James Galway)
• (1991)
• (1992)
• (1992)
• The Celtic Harp: A Tribute To Edward Bunting (1993) (with The Belfast Harp Orchestra)
• (1995)
• Film Cuts (1996)
• Santiago (1996)
• Long Journey Home (1998)
• (1998)
• Silent Night: A Christmas in Rome (1998)
• (1999)
• Water From the Well (2000)
• (2002)
• (2002)
• (2003)
• (2005)
• The Essential Chieftains (2006)
• (2010) (with Ry Cooder)