Irish folk and rebel music group The Wolfe Tones have announced their plans to retire next year after 60 years of performing together.
The band have decided to "go out on a high" after their show in the SSE Arena in Belfast and their two shows at Dublin's 3Arena next October.
Speaking to The Irish Sun, singer Tommy Byrne spoke about making the decision along with his bandmates Brian Warfield and Noel Nagle.
"I never thought that we would go on so long," he said.
"It’s been absolutely amazing, but I’m 80 next year and I think that would be a good time to stop."
"I brought this motion to Brian and Noel and they agreed.
"To go out on a high like this would be a great tribute to the band."
The news comes after the band enjoyed massive crowds at their Electric Picnic performance last September - the largest crowds to ever attend an Electric Arena gig in the festival's history.
Byrne said of their fans: "They'd hardly want to see us playing the Picnic in wheelchairs. I’m fit and healthy but all the travelling we do, does wear you down.
"We always agreed that if one of us passed away, we wouldn’t continue by getting in new Wolfe Tones to replace them."
The Wolfe Tones were formed in Dublin during the so-called "ballad boom" of the early 1960s, with the current line-up comprising Tommy Byrne, Noel Nagle and Brian Warfield who have performed as a trio since the early 2000s.
The band has released 16 albums and as well as domestic success, they have achieved acclaim abroad, particularly from the Irish disapora. They were awarded the Freedom of the Cities of New York and Los Angeles and have played Carnegie Hall on several occasions.
Their music includes both originals and covers, and with some of their best known songs including Celtic Symphony, Let The People Sing and Grace.
