The Chieftains
On St Patrick's Day in 1972 Bell performed on the radio of the music of Turlough O'Carolan, an 18th-century blind Irish harpist. At that time O'Carolan's music was virtually unknown, though today almost every album of harp music contains one of his compositions. Working with Bell on the project were several members of The Chieftains. Bell became friends with the leader of the Chieftains, Paddy Moloney. For two precarious years, he recorded both with the BBC Northern Ireland Orchestra and with The Chieftains, until finally becoming a full-time member of the Chieftains in 1975.