IRISH folksters the Kilkennys pick up where the Dubliners left off when they return to Clacton this week.

It's 20 years since the original four-piece of schoolpals first went on the road together.

A decade later they changed their name to the Kilkennys after their beloved hometown Kilkenny City.

Their dynamic arrangements, energetic performances and charismatic rapport with audiences have now made them favourites around the world.

After releasing live album and DVD Meet The Kilkennys, radio and TV appearances soon followed, which included RTE’s Late Late Show, where they preformed their single Shine on Kilkenny – an original song released to celebrate Kilkenny winning the all-Ireland hurling final for a forth year in a row.

Much acclaimed 2014 studio album The Colour Of Freedom featured a mix of original material and well known ballads like Rocky Road To Dublin and South Australia.

The Kilkennys have shared the stage with renowned Irish artists such as Shane McGowan, Sharron Shannon and Finbar Furey, and played on the main stage at Milwaukee Irish Fest – the largest Irish festival in the world.

The current line-up includes founding members Davey Cashin (vocals, mandolin, banjo, guitar, whistles) and Tommy Mackey (bass, acoustic guitar, vocals), long-serving Robbie Campion (banjo, guitar, madolin, vocals) and latest member Mick Martin ( bodhran, uilleann pipes, low whistles, guitar, vocals).

The Kilkennys are at the West Cliff Theatre this Sunday at 7.30pm. Tickets are £21 from the box office on 01255 433344.