Joe Dolan was born in Mullingar, County Westmeath. The youngest of eight, his Father died when he was 8 and his Mother when he was 15. Joe was left at home with brother Ben, as the rest of the family had either emigrated or settled down. On Ben’s advice, Joe started work as an apprentice newspaper compositor with the local newspaper, the Westmeath Examiner.

The Dolan household was always noted for music, Joe was to be seen in those early days playing the washboard accompanying his sisters’ singing in the house. Indeed it was no surprise that Joe and Ben decided to put a band together and play the local dancehall circuit.