The Chieftains were a renowned Irish folk band formed in Dublin in 1962 by Paddy Moloney, Seán Potts, and Michael Tubridy. Known for their almost entirely instrumental sound featuring the uilleann pipes, they became closely associated with traditional Irish music. The Chieftains played a key role in bringing Irish music to an international audience, earning six Grammy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. In recognition of their influence, they were named 'Ireland's Musical Ambassadors' by the Irish government in 1989.