Berwyn Showband Story (1966-1970)
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 our stories
based on first person reports, newspaper articles and photographic
archives. If you can add anything or correct info in this story,
please email us and let us know.
In mid-1966, a new band came on the scene in Limerick, which had
previously boasted outfits like the Donie Collins Band (in fact
several members of his band joined this new band,) the Berwyn
Showband. Local businessman, Mick Crowe is credited with putting the
band on the road and attracted some of the best musicians around at
the time. The original line-up was: Joe Browne (vocals and guitar,
formerly with the Ohio), Ray Fitzgerald (guitar), Eric Ryan (bass),
Aidan D'Arcy (drums), Joe Cantillon (sax), Mick Falahee (sax) and
Dave McCormick (trumpet). Both Eric and Mick were formerly with
Donie Collins.
Initially the band did well in the
southwest, but very quickly they getting gigs all across the
country. The first change in the line-up occurred when John Browne
was recruited from Tuam's Gerry and the Ohio
to return to his home of Limerick to join the band on bass. At that
point his brother Willie was playing with a local Limerick band
called the Colours. However, between August and December, Willie
also joined the band which now boasted three Browne brothers in the
line-up.
By June of 1967, it appears future
Limerick superstar, Denis Allen had joined the band on guitar, we
think replacing Willie Browne as a few months later, in September,
drummer Aidan D'Arcy had been replaced by Tom Frost and Willie was
out of the line-up. .
In February, 1968, the
"Pop Scene" column in the Kerryman
reported that Denis Allen was leaving the band to form his own
group. The next mention of the band we have found was in May of 1968
when they were advertised as the "New Berwyn Showband," although
adverts looking for gigs started calling the band "new" around April
of 1968.
An article from early 1967 mentioned
that the band had been a ten piece and was now a more manageable 8
piece.
Based on the research we have been
able to do with newspaper archives, it appears there were three
"phases" of the band as there was a wholesale change in the lineup
as mentioned above and then in early 1968, the band was taken over
by a new manager and it appears all new musicians. In 1968, the band
was advertised as the New Berwyn Showband and had apparent
changed managers as their contact was now listed as P. Guinane. An
advert in September, 1968 said the new "Indian lead singer" was Eddie La Touche.
The last advert for the band
gigging we can find is in March, 1970. We have to assume that at
this point the band went off the road or changed its name. In
retrospect, the most memorable aspect of the Berwyn was that it was
Denis Allen's first band and he would go on in the 1970's and
1980's to become one of Ireland's best known songwriters.
More to come.....
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