Trivia

He presented Irish stories and songs, performing on banjo and tin-whistle. He became friends with Pete Seeger and the Weavers. Makem and the Clancy Brothers appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show", as well as in concert at the Royal Albert Hall and Carnegie Hall. In 1962, Makem played for US President John F. Kennedy, who was of Irish descent.

Mother Sarah Makem was a leading Irish traditional singer.

Immigrated to the U.S. with Liam Clancy in 1955. Performed with Clancy and his brothers, Tom Clancy, and Pat Clancy as "The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem".

He visited his native County Armagh three weeks before his death; he also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster.

Makem is often credited as having written the classic Irish ballad "Red is the Rose". Many believe that he wrote the song's lyrics and set them to the tune of "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond". This, however, is not true. The song is completely traditional. In fact, Makem indicated in the linear notes to his "Songbag" CD that his mother, Sarah, sang it to him when he was a child.

His sons Shane, Conor and Rory formed the singing group The Makem Brothers.

Starred in a one-man show in New York entitled "Invasions and Legacies" in 1999.