With a diverse fan base ranging from families in their living rooms to beer-swilling carousers in their favourite pub, it鈥檚 no wonder these Irish lads have been roving for 4陆 decades.

This weekend, local audiences will have a chance to enjoy the rousing refrains of The Irish Rovers, when they visit the Bell Performing Arts Centre Oct. 2.

The 性视界传媒 stop is part of the group鈥檚 Home In Ireland Tour, celebrating 45 years since their debut recording in 1966.

With dozens of such tours under their belts, founding member and predominant songwriter George Millar said the band is 鈥渟till amazed鈥� at the sold-out crowds that come out to see them, noting a diverse cross-section of ages among those attending their live shows.

鈥淭he little kids that we sang The Unicorn Song to, they鈥檙e grown up now with kids of their own,鈥� Millar told Peace Arch News by phone last week during a stop in Prince Albert, Sask. 鈥淚t鈥檚 got us wondering when we鈥檒l ever be able to retire at this rate.鈥�

It was the aforementioned ditty 鈥� originally a poem by U.S. poet Shel Silverstein 鈥� that launched the Rovers onto the world stage in the late 鈥�60s.

But it was the group鈥檚 lively charm and catchy, sing-along tunes that kept them on the radios and TVs of Canadian households throughout the next few decades.

The Irish Rovers Show 鈥� a CBC-produced variety program the band starred in for seven years 鈥� was group鈥檚 first foray into television.

It was followed by The Rovers Comedy House in 1981, a seven-part CBC series, and Party With The Rovers, another musical variety series that ran from 1984 to 1986.

Throughout this time, the group managed to record an average of about one album per year 鈥� their latest release, Home In Ireland, marks album number 37 for the band.

The band鈥檚 longevity 鈥� not to mention productivity 鈥� is a feat Millar admits is 鈥渞ather amazing.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 have a clue how we did it,鈥� the Vancouver Island resident said, noting that, in many ways, the songwriting, recording and touring process has gotten easier in recent years.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have the same pressure that you did when you were a young fella, with the responsibilities of mortgages, children and families and that.鈥�

Though there is still plenty on the horizon for the Rovers 鈥� including an upcoming U.S. tour, a Christmas album and DVD and a new album due out in March 鈥� Millar said the band鈥檚 roving days will be coming to an end in a few years.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to retire from the road in about four years 鈥� when we mark our 50th year,鈥� he said, noting the hassle of travelling cross-country and internationally with so much gear has become too big a burden for the group.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an absolute logistical nightmare.鈥�

For those who catch The Irish Rovers in 性视界传媒 this weekend, for what could be one of the group鈥檚 last local appearances, Millar promises the two-hour show will feature a mix of new tunes and recognizable classics that should make for a fun time for all.

鈥淚f they leave whistling Drunken Sailor, then we know we鈥檝e done our job.鈥�

The Irish Rovers are set to hit the stage at the Bell Performing Arts Centre, 6250 144 St., at 7 p.m. Oct. 2.

Tickets are available online at www.bellperformingartscentre.com or by calling 604-507-6355.