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Ciaran Bourke was born in Dublin on the 18th February 1935, the 2nd child to 3 children of Francis Bourke and his' wife'. Francis, was a doctor and had a practice in the city of Dublin, and Ciaran had an Irish nanny who raised him, and it was from there that Ciaran learned to speak Gaelic, and was the only one in the gruop who could speak it fuently. He attended Colasite Mhuile, Parnell Square, Dublin and later attended University College Dublin for a course in Agricultural Science. He did not take the degree but always remained an interest in farming. In the 1960s Ciaran frequented O' Donoghues Pub in Dublin, ands there he met Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly and Barney McKenna and this was later to become the Dubliners. In the Dubliners, he played the tin whistle, harmonica, and guitar and sang many songs and some in Gaelic such as:-Peggy Lettermore, Preab San Ol, The Juice of The Barley among others. On the 5th of April 1974, Ciaran whilst performing in Eastbourne kept moving his' head' about as if he was relieving increasing pain, and this worried Luke, who thought that they better phone a doctor and await their' return' to the Irish Club at Eaton Square. The roadman for the trip, John Corry however thought that it would be better if they drove to St Georges' HospitaL' in Eastbourne where they diagnosed a brain aneuryysm.