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Brideside Serenaders (1937-1947) Orchestra (1948-1961)
Showband
(1961-1966)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

Our thanks to Jim Prendergast for additional info supplied in May, 2020

Jim has told us the band first started in September, 1937 with their first gig in the Lisnabrin Hall just outside their hometown of Tallow, Co. Waterford near the border with County Cork. The original line-up included: Jerry Goggin (accordion), Charlotte Long (piano), Tom Fitzgerald (accordion), Victor Acres (accordion), Michael Fitzgerald, Tom Sheehan (drums), and Frank Prendergast (trumpet). 

After a year or so it was decided to add some brass so Dave Doyle was asked to join on alto sax and later Billy Hogan from Lismore on tenor sax and Pete Gillen from Lismore on alto sax. Mick Landers from Lismore replaced Tommy Sheehan on drums, and Claudette Colbert replaced Charlotte Long on piano. The line up at this time was Mick Landers (drums), Dave Doyle, Billy Hogan, and Pete Gillen on three saxes, Frank Prendergast on trumpet and Claudette Colbert on piano. During this period Dave Doyle looked after the bookings for the band. 

In 1943 (the first dance advert we could find), they were known as the Brideside Serenaders. By 1951, they would go under the name "Brideside Serenaders Dance Orchestra." In the 1950's the line-up also included Jim and Frank Prendergast. The band was very popular right across the whole of Munster from Waterford to Cork.

Adverts in late 1940's also mentioned Steve Sheehan, who along with Dave also played sax. In a 1951 advert wishing their fans a "happy Christmas," we found our first listing of the six piece line-up. Dave Doyle (leader and sax), Mick Landers (drums), Claudette Colbert (keyboards), Billy Hogan (sax), Pete Gillan (sax) and Frank Prendergast (trumpet).  

In 1954, the band expanded to a seven piece for the first time adding Paddy Geary on "bass fiddle" as Pete Gillen moved to Canada. In newspaper adverts they singled out Claudette as the "Queen of the Ivories."  However, by 1957 Claudette left the band, Jim tells us, "due to the closure of Lismore Railway station as her father was the station master there." At that point Jim replaced her on the piano. 

This would be followed by the departure of Mick Landers and Paddy Geary switched to the drums, while his cousin, Johnny Geary took over on the bass. At the end of 1960, it appears Dave Doyle left the road and the band and Frank Walsh from Lismore became their new manager.   

The first mention of the Bridesiders' Showband we can find was in early 1961. It would appear that they we playing as the "relief band" in the Arch Ballroom in Tallow, their hometown at least for a time. Jim Prendergast was still a member of the band, having joined them at age 15.

In January, 1963, the band was a six piece as David Doyle had packed it in. Ned O'Brien would join to play sax and sing making them a seven piece once gain. The band was still being managed by Frank Walsh.   

By 1964, the band's lineup was: Paddy Geary (drums), Joe Prendergast (Jim's brother- bass and vocals), Jim Prendergast (lead guitar and vocals), Don O'Brien (rhythm guitar), Frank Prendergast (trumpet), Billy Hogan (sax) and Pete Gillen (sax). A year later, Joe would leave and Billy moved over to play bass.  .  

Based in Tallow, Co. Waterford they still appeared to be a regional band, playing mostly in the south of the country, although they did play occasionally in the West. By the time they changed names, they were being managed by Frank Walsh from Cappoquin, Co. Waterford. They would feature country, Dixieland and trad.

Sadly, Ned O'Brien would pass away suddenly in 1963, and he was replaced by Don O'Brien in 1964.

Jim told us, "while playing in The Arcadia Ballroom Cork in March 1966 I was approached by Hugh Hardy who was The Victors Manager, to join the Victors. My brother Joe and myself joined and I was with them for 5 years. The Bridesiders broke up shortly after 1966 and the last advert for the Bridesiders we can find is in February, 1966.

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Brideside Ser.- 1943 Brideside Ser.- 1944 Brideside Orch (DL) Bridesiders - 1961 Bridesiders - 1961
Brideside Ser.- 1954 Brideside Ser. - 1958 Bridesiders Showband Bridesiders (JP) Bridesiders (GF)
Bridesiders (RF) Bridesiders - 1961 Bridesiders (RF) Bridesiders (RF) Bridesiders - 1966
   
Bridesiders - 1976 Bridesiders - 1964 (JP) Prendergasts - 1966 Coming Soon Coming Soon
Years Sax Bass Drums Keyboards Sax Sax Trumpet
1937 Gerry (Accd)
Gogginx
Victor (Accd)
Acres
Tom
Sheehan
Charlotte
Long
Tom (Accd)
Fitzgerald
Michael
Fitzgerald
Frank
Prendergast
1948 Dave
Doyle
  Tom
Sheehan
Jerry
Mellerick
Billy
Hogan
Steve
Sheehan
Frank
Prendergast
Dec
1951
Dave
Doyle
  Mick
Landers
Claudette
Colbert
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
Dec
1954
Dave
Doyle
Paddy
Geary
Mick
Landers
Claudette
Colbert
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
1957 Dave
Doyle
Johnny (Accd)
Geary
Paddy
Geary
Jim
Prendergast
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
1958 Dave
Doyle
Joe
Prendergast
Paddy
Geary
Jim
Prendergast
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
1961   Joe
Prendergast
Paddy
Geary
Jim
Prendergast
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
Jan
1963
Ned
O'Brien
  Paddy
Geary
Jim (guitar)
Prendergast
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
1964 Don (vocals)
O'Brien
Joe
Prendergast
Paddy
Geary
Jim (guitar)
Prendergast
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
1965 Don (vocals)
O'Brien
Billy
Hogan
Paddy
Geary
Jim (guitar)
Prendergast
Don
O'Brien
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
    David
Doherty (Gtr 63)
  Jerry d.7/91
Mellerick
     

Discography

S - #3 Irish Charts
M

Audio Clips

         
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

David Doyle - RIP: Died November 1990
Steve Sheehan:
Mick Landers:
Jerry Mellerick - RIP: Jerry sadly passed away in July, 1991.
Claudette Colbert:
Billy Hogan:
Pete Gillan:
Frank Prendergast:
Jim Prendergast:
Paddy Geary:
Ned O'Brien - RIP: Ned sadly passed away in 1963
Joe Prendergast:
Johnny Geary:
Don O'Brien:
Years Sax Bass Drums Keyboards Sax Sax Trumpet
1937 Gerry (Accd)
Gogginx
Victor (Accd)
Acres
Tom
Sheehan
Charlotte
Long
Tom (Accd)
Fitzgerald
Michael
Fitzgerald
Frank
Prendergast
1948 Dave
Doyle
  Tom
Sheehan
Jerry
Mellerick
Billy
Hogan
Steve
Sheehan
Frank
Prendergast
Dec
1951
Dave
Doyle
  Mick
Landers
Claudette
Colbert
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
Dec
1954
Dave
Doyle
Paddy
Geary
Mick
Landers
Claudette
Colbert
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
1957 Dave
Doyle
Johnny (Accd)
Geary
Paddy
Geary
Jim
Prendergast
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
1958 Dave
Doyle
Joe
Prendergast
Paddy
Geary
Jim
Prendergast
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
1961   Joe
Prendergast
Paddy
Geary
Jim
Prendergast
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
Jan
1963
Ned
O'Brien
  Paddy
Geary
Jim (guitar)
Prendergast
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
1964 Don (vocals)
O'Brien
Joe
Prendergast
Paddy
Geary
Jim (guitar)
Prendergast
Billy
Hogan
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
1965 Don (vocals)
O'Brien
Billy
Hogan
Paddy
Geary
Jim (guitar)
Prendergast
Don
O'Brien
Pete
Gillan
Frank
Prendergast
    David
Doherty (Gtr 63)
  Jerry d.7/91
Mellerick
     

 


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In Loving Memory of Grant Gallagher: Sept. 21, 1990 - Nov. 18, 2006