Who says you need luck to make it in Vegas? For The Black Donnellys duo, Dave Browne and Dave Rooney, pure talent turned their desert gamble into a jackpot of success. These Irish lads traded their green hills for neon thrills, and boy, did they win big!
With two movies, five studio albums, an Emmy, a Songwriter of the Year Award, a World Record, a NIFA Music Legend Award, and a People’s Choice Award under their belts, these fellas have done some amazing things here. And that’s not even counting the endless pints their fans have downed in the duo’s 11-year stint as the house band at Rí Rá Irish Pub in Mandalay Bay.
But how did these Dublin dudes end up as Vegas headliners? It all started when Dave Browne decided to give his fingers a workout in 2011. He broke the world record for marathon guitar playing, strumming for a mind-boggling 114 hours straight.
This six-string stint caught the ear of Rí Rá’s owners, who were setting up shop here in Sin City. They hired Browne faster than you can say “top o’ the mornin’,” and before long, he was pulling week-long gigs. Impressed by Browne’s stamina, the owners invited him back for a more permanent gig.
Browne brought along his mate Dave Rooney for a two-week trial. After a breakfast meeting at Mandalay Bay that probably involved more Guinness than granola, the duo decided to take a chance on Vegas.
Rooney, ever the romantic, was drawn to the glitz and glamour.
He says, “I always wanted to see Las Vegas, purely because of the curiosity number one, the shows, the diverse restaurants and to see the [nearby] Grand Canyon. I wanted to see what it was all about. I was pleasantly surprised. It still holds a certain amount of magic… Las Vegas has been very good to me. The Black Donnellys have done well here.”
For over a decade, The Black Donnellys turned Rí Rá into a little slice of Dublin in the desert. But as all good things must come to an end, the boys decided it was time for a change.
Browne has since moved to the Big Apple, trading one concrete jungle for another. “It’s a massive difference of worlds apart from Las Vegas,” he says, probably while dodging taxis and pigeons.
But fear not, fans! The Black Donnellys aren’t hanging up their instruments just yet. Browne assures us, “The Black Donnellys are still massive. We’re touring the U.S. and Canada right now.”
As for their Vegas gig, he admits, “To be quite honest, we felt that we were getting stale doing the six nights a week in Vegas. Although it sounds great, the money was great and we were probably one of the highest-paid pub bands there. All that was brilliant. But we found ourselves getting lazy… I love New York, and I always wanted to live here. And the opportunity came up in such a way that my head was ready for it.”
Rooney, meanwhile, is still living the desert dream.
He’s collecting memories like casino chips, saying, “Breaking the world record for the longest concert was one major memory [I’ll always carry about Las Vegas]. The way everybody came together was great. Three hundred and seventy-two hours was a big ask, but it was great to do it. Writing the Conor McGregor tune ‘Notorious‘ for the UFC was huge, and it was great to see the sea of green descend on Las Vegas every time he fought. That was a wonderful time. Lastly, winning the Emmy award for our movie, An Irish Story: This Is My Home, was such a pivotal moment, and when we walked in [for the ceremony], everybody started applauding us. Just magical.”
The duo’s success wasn’t simply the luck of the Irish, though – they worked hard and honed their talents. They built a loyal following of locals and conventioneers alike, turning Rí Rá into a home away from home for many. But even paradise has its problems. Increased parking fees and the loss of local perks at Mandalay Bay put a damper on things.
As Rooney laments, “I think Vegas has really, really messed itself up because they’ve killed the free valet parking in the Mandalay Bay.” And let’s not forget the pandemic. “There was a great, great, great vibe in it, and it was brilliant. And then Covid hit, so that knocked us back a bit, you know?”
Despite the challenges, the Shamrock showmen’s love for Las Vegas remains strong. Browne may have played his last regular gig at Rí Rá in June, but he’s not saying goodbye forever. “I will go back. I will go back and play at the odd show and I might go and do one or two special nights in it with the Donnellys.”
For now, he’s focusing on his next documentary, Through a Storm, which is about how 9/11 affected musicians.
Now an official Yankee Doodle Dandy, Rooney is still keeping the Vegas flame alive. “Las Vegas is the place where I became an American citizen, which happened just this past April. I got my green card here, wrote my book on anxiety here, and recorded my best album ‘Legacy’ here… Vegas has really been a very special part of my life. I still gig at Rí Rá… under the name Dave Rooney & Friends.”
When he’s not on stage, Rooney’s busy as a mental health speaker.
As for Rí Rá, it’s still standing tall in Mandalay Place, as authentic as a four-leaf clover. Built with salvaged Irish materials, it’s a slice of 19th-century Ireland in the heart of the Nevada desert. The over 100-year-old wooden bar has soaked up countless tall tales and whispered secrets—and I can tell you from personal experience that their traditional Irish Stew is out of this world.
So, whether you’re a local or just passing through, stop by Rí Rá for a pint and a tune. Who knows? You might catch The Black Donnellys reuniting for a special show.
