Career
June and Philosophy Colclough both came from North Staffordshire, England, and both had careers in education. Philosophy had been a navigator in the Merchant Navy, which provided source material for some of his songs. The Colcloughs founded the first folk music club in Stoke-on-Trent in 1960.
In the 1970s, the Colcloughs returned to North Staffordshire, where they produced a folk music radio program for British Broadcasting Corporation Radio Stoke.
"Song for Ireland" was inspired by a trip the Colcloughs took to the Dingle Peninsula. Described as a "modern classic", it has been recorded by numerous artists, including Dick Gaughan, Luke Kelly, Mary Black, Ralph McTell, Celtic Spirit, The Dubliners, Brendan Hayes and Damien Leith.
