The band was formed in Kingston, Ontario in 1990 by Dublin-born Fintan "Finny" McConnell and Barry Williams, as a one-off band for a St. Patrick's Day party.
According to their website (www.themahones.net), the name was chosen to rhyme with The Ramones. However, in an interview with the Calgary Herald (Wednesday, September 21, 1994), McConnell commented on the name of The Mahones, referring to the fact The Pogues were originally called Pogue Mahone:
Quatro anos de trabalho duro!Neste mês de maio fizemos quatro anos no ar. Continuamos trabalhando na divulgação deste maravilhoso instrumento, obrigado por participar da nossa história!