Allen Gogarty was born into a musical family in County Meath, in his native country of Ireland, and started playing various musical instruments at an early age. He began to write his own songs in his early teens. He started a band with his siblings and performed the pub circuit in Ireland and in festivals in Europe. After studying at the famed Academy of Music and Ballyfermot College of Music in Dublin, Allen went out on his own, performing in Ireland and Europe. After gaining much notoriety, Allen was asked to open for both Suzanne Vega and Status Quo. Allen has lived in New York City for over two decades, playing both as a solo artist and with his powerhouse band, the Wads. He is well known in the New York City Irish community for championing many benefits and fundraisers for those in need. During the pandemic, Allen contributed his songwriting and singing to the FEW Coalition’s fight for equivalent pandemic relief for all immigrant essential workers in New York State, regardless of their documentation statuses.