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Country Folk Feature (1969-1982)

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

The Story

In the November 21st, 1969 issue of Spotlight, the Insight column announced that promoters Johnny Kelly (formerly of the Capitol) and Johnny McNally (who ran the Airlines dance in Dublin's Crystal Ballroom) had signed Margo (O'Donnell) to front a new band, which was soon revealed as The Country Folk. The new band debuted on St. Stephen's Night, 1969. 

Born Margaret O'Donnell in Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal Margo is one of the real enigmas of the Irish entertainment scene. She started her career with local band, The Keynotes and her debut disc, Bonny Irish Boy, actually cracked the Irish Top 20, no mean feat for a newcomer to the scene. Her second record, Road By The River made it to number two, establishing her as a bona fide star with the "Country and Irish" set.

The original Country Folk lineup was made up of: Mick Bagnall (bass), Paul Mitchell (steel guitar), Aidan Graham (drums), Colm Graham (guitar), Roy Butterfield (guitar) and Owin St. John (fiddle). In the August 8th, 1970 edition of Spotlight it was reported that Owin left the band and was being replaced by a sax player. The article also reported that Margo had been off the road for a week due to an appendix operation. At the end of January, 1970, an article in the Anglo-Celt reported Kieran Murphy had left a band in London to join the Country Folk as well as guitar player, John Winters and keyboard player Joe Murray.

The band was an immediate hit, partially because of the rise in popularity of country bands at the time and also the fact Margo had enjoyed success with the Keynotes. Obviously6 Des Kelly experience and connection on the showband circuit didn't hurt and the band was playing in the biggest ballrooms in the country from the start.       

Fronting the Country Folk, Margo continued to build on her success and popularity with more hit singles including a number one--I'll Forgive and I'll Try to Forget. In the Spotlight National Show business Poll (whose results were published in the January 16th, 1971 issue of the magazine), Margo was voted top female artist, beating out Eurovision winner, Dana (2nd), Kelley (3rd), and Sandie Jones (4th). The result consolidated her position as one of the top acts on the ballroom circuit. In February, 1971, Westport's Frank McCaffrey (formerly with the Frielmen Showband) joined the Country Folk

In late 1972, several things happened. First, the band underwent several changes and when the dust settled, only Margo, Dave Traynor, Joe Murray and Frank McCaffrey were left in the band. According to Julie Boyd's column in the December 14, 1972 issue of Spotlight, the new lineup was: Frank McCaffrey (bass), Ray Doherty (guitar), Paddy Higgins (drums), Joe Murray (keyboards), Jim Malone (sax), Dave Traynor (sax) and Margo (vocals). At the same time, Margo was given her own prime time show on RTE television called "Margo and Co." and every week she had different guest artists, usually from the country n' Irish set. The show would be rated as one of the top ten shows on RTE at the time, beating out U.S. TV series like Hawaii 5-0 and Marcus Welby, MD

It appears that around February of 1973, the band changed its name to Margo & Co. (or possibly a new band was formed, but we doubt it at this point). At the time, the band was managed by John McNally and included new members Jim Mullaly  (keyboards) and Davy Traynor (sax). By this point Margo was recognised as one of the top "Country & Irish" artists in Ireland and it seemed everything she touched turned to gold. 

However this would be short lived as in July, 1974, the singer was involved in a serious car accident and was off the road for a while. The initial report in the Evening Herald newspaper said she had "minor injuries" but over the next few months it would be described as a "serious accident" and Margo would be in hospital for over a month. 

After a four month recuperation, she joined with Mattie Fox (who had previously been with the Country Blue Boys and the Grassroots) and they headed up a revamped lineup of the Grassroots, with the new name, Country Pride. The new band made their debut on Christmas Night, 1974.

As was the case with many showband stories, actual facts can be hard to come by. An article in the Mayo News on September 7th, 1974 reported that Frank McCaffrey had taken over for Margo when she "went into cabaret." Other reports were that there was trouble in the band which had been brewing for some time. One way or another, Margo and the Country Folk parted ways, although John McNally remained their manager. In the meantime, Ray Doherty had left to the band join the Big 8 and Kieran Murphy returned to the stage. The band reverted to its original name, Country Folk, and continued on without hardly missing a beat. Frank McCaffrey became the "front man" and manager John McNally drafted Frankie Carroll (bass/vocals) from the Brendan Shine Super Band and Michael Kane (steel) from the Conquerors in the reorganisation of the lineup. 

A report in the Tuam Herald on August 3rd, said Margo had been released from hospital and it would be six to eight weeks before she returned to the stage. However, one way or another, despite all the different stories, the Country Folk were back on the road in August, making their debut in the Mayflower Ballroom in Drumshanbo of the 15th of August.

A year later, Frankie would follow Ray Doherty into the Big 8, filling the shoes left empty by the death of Tom Dunphy. They released a single in November, 1974 which featured Frank singing My Wild Irish Rose (the song had been a hit for Roly Daniels in 1971). The song did not make the charts but the band was doing steady business. The Country Folk would remain on the road for ther best part of another decade as the last advert we can find for them gigging was in December, 1982. 

Given that the band had originally been formed to back one of Ireland's most famous singers in Margaret "Margo" O'Donnell, it is amazing that in the end she was only with the band for a little over three years of their 13 year history.  

There is little

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Country Folk - 1969 Country Folk - 1970 Country Folk - 1970 Country Folk - 1970 Country Folk - 1970 (DL)
Country Folk - 1970 Country Folk - 1970 Country Folk - 1970 Country Folk - 1970 Country Folk - 1971
Country Folk - 1971 Country Folk - 1971 (KS) Country Folk - 1972 Country Folk - 1973 Margo & Co - 1973
Margo and Co - 1973 Margo and Co - 1974 Margo and Co - 1974 Country Folk - 1974 Country Folk-1974 (RF)
Country Folk - 1974 Country Folk - 1974 Country Folk - 1974 Country Folk - 1975 Country Folk - 1974
Country Folk - 1975 Country Folk - 1975 Nov - 1970 Dec - 1971 Country Folk - 1971
Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF) Country Folk - 1975
Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF)
Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF)
   
Country Folk (RF) Country Folk (RF) Country Folk Coming Soon Coming Soon

Lineup Changes (incomplete,,,need some help)
 

Years Vocals Guitar Bass Drums Guitar/Keys Steel/Sax Other
Dec
1969
Margo
O'Donnell
Roy
Butterfield
Mick
Bagnall
Aidan
Graham
Colm
Grahan
Paul
Mitchell
Owin (Fiddle)
St. John
Aug
1970
Margo
O'Donnell
Kieran
Murphy
Mick
Bagnall
Aidan
Graham
Joe
Murray
Unknown John (Gtr)
Winters
Nov
1970
Margo
O'Donnell
Kieran
Murphy
Mick
Bagnall
Aidan
Graham
Unknown Unknown  
Feb
1971
Margo
O'Donnell
Kieran
Murphy
Mick
Bagnall
Aidan
Graham
Jim
Mullaly (keys)
Davy
Traynor (sax)
Frank (trmpt)
McCaffrey
1973 Margo
O'Donnell
Kieran
Murphy
Mick
Bagnall
Aidan
Graham
Jim
Mullaly (keys)
Davy
Traynor (sax)
Frank (trmpt)
McCaffrey
1973 Margo
O'Donnell
Ray
Doherty
Unknown Paddy
Higgins
Jim
Malone
Davy
Traynor (sax)
Frank (trmpt)
McCaffrey
July
1974
Frank
McCaffrey
Kieran
Murphy
Frankie
Carroll
Paddy
Higgins
Jim
Malone
Davy
Traynor (sax)
Michael
Kane (steel)
July
1975
Frank
McCaffrey
Kieran
Murphy
Unknown Paddy
Higgins
Jim
Malone
Davy
Traynor (sax)
Michael
Kane (steel)
               
               
               

Discography

Margo and the Country Folk
Gradh Mo Chroi / Mama Say A Prayer
- #6 Irish Charts
Ruby Records - RUB 102 - March, 1970
I'll Forgive and I'll Try To Forget / Satisfied Mind
- #1 Irish Charts
Ruby Records - RUB 113 - September, 1970
Deep Sheep Haven Bay / If I Kiss You (Double A Side)
Ara Records - ARA 001 - February, 1971

Don't Read The Letter / Time Changes Everything
- #1 Irish Charts
Ara Records - ARA 002 - June, 1971

Margo and Co.
Shamrock From Glenore / Bonny Scotland // Cliffs of Dooneen / The Road and Miles to Dundee
- #2 Irish Charts
Ara Records - ARA 004 - February, 1973
Deepening Snow /
 
Ara Records - ARA 005 - November, 1973

Country Folk
Lough Sheelin / Faded Love
IRL Records - IRL 226 - Unknown
My Wild Irish Rose / Let's All Go Down to the River / Rosemary / Maggie / Dear John Honky Tonk Blues
IRL Records - Unknown - November 1974
 

Audio Clips

         
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Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

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