Arcadian / Arcadians Showband Feature (1945
- )
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Editor's note: Every care
has been taken to present only factual information in this story
based on newspaper articles and photographic
archives. If you can add anything or correct info in this story,
please email us and let us know.
The history of the Arcadians Showband from Navan goes back to
1945 and features one of the most famous musical names in Ireland,
the Smyth family. Patriarch, Jimmy, started the band which included,
we think, his wife Maureen and several brothers, but we are unable
to find a line-up for the original band to date, we will continue to
research this. Back in those days, the band was often called
the Arcadians Orchestra or Dance Band. The advertised
vocalists were named as "Joe and Frances Sherlock," but we have no
idea about Joe's last name. Jimmy was also reported to have spent
time with the Steve Garvey Band before going out of his own.
A report in the Meath Chronicle on
October 23rd, 1948 credited the band with the introduction of a "new
dance number entitled A Dancing Tune, composed and arranged
by Mr. Jim Smyth, leader of the Arcadian Band, Navan." Some time
later he published a poem called "The
Hurling Men from Meath."
As an interesting aside, back in
those days bands were named after their leader or sometime the MC
(Master of Ceremonies) who usually (but didn't always) play a brass
or woodwind instrument. In the case of the Arcadians, Jimmy played
sax and around 1950 the band started being advertised as Jimmy Smyth
and his Arcadians. However, unlike the later showband era, these
people rarely sang, they had featured vocalists that handle that
(much like the big bands of the 1940's like Glenn Miller). By this
time the band was well established especially in the east and border
counties to the north. At one point they played so much around
Drogheda they were identified in adverts as a Drogheda-based band.
In 1954 the band was "appointed
the resident orchestra at the Tara Ballroom, Courtown Harbour, Co.
Wexford for the summer" which was common in the days before
showbands wandered up and down the country. Around this time, across
the country brass players, especially trumpeters began to featured
more and more by the "orchestras." For a time, youngest brother Des
Smyth was being promoted as
. the road in August, 1960. Formed by Jimmy Smyth
Jimmy died in 1983
Maureen Smyth (wife) died in 1993
Tony Smyth died in Julky, 1983
aged 58 after a long illness
Edward Fennessy played trumpet
died in June 1981 he was 62
Des Smyth with Navan based Boston
showband in 1965
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
