Emmet-Spiceland (1966-1970,
1973)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
 In the mid-1960s, Donal Lunny, Brian Bolger,
and Mick Maloney formed The Emmet Folk Group. The name Emmet-Spiceland came about when Mick
Maloney left the band to join
The Johnstons and Brian and Donal teamed up with Michael and Brian Byrne from Sheffield's Spiceland
Folk shortly before winning the Wexford Ballad contest in 1967. (In
the previous year the Emmet Folk had come second to The Johnstons).
For a while the group was a quartet.
The Byrnes' father, Tommy, was a Feis Ceoil winner three years
running in the Thirties. However, Brian Bolger left the band within a short
time and they continued as a trio. The Wexford success led to a recording deal and
in February of 1968 their Mary from Dungloe topped the Irish
singles chart. Noted for their tight harmony
arrangements, the band went on to success with their recordings of Baidin
Feidhlimuid (1967) and Tá na Báid.
In late 1968, the boys made a push for
international fame when they signed with the British label, Page One
Records. Larry Page, at the time boss of Page One, felt the
combination of Emmet Spiceland and hit song writers Phil Coulter and
Bill Martin made an unbeatable combination. At the time, the band's
bookings were being handled by Brian Molloy of the Tom Costello
Organization. In 1968, Page One also boasted The Troggs and Vanity
Fare among its artist ranks. On Saturday, November 2nd, the band
headlined a concert at the National Stadium in Dublin which also
included singer Ann Byrne, the Cotton Mill Boys, Maxi, Dick and
Twink and the Ryecatchers.
In 1969, Leo O'Kelly, who had been playing with the
Tropical Showband from
the age of 14 through 19, joined the band, replacing Donal Lunny who had reportedly "given up music to concentrate on his
art." When Donal left, he was the last remaining member of the
original Emmett Folk Group to depart. The trio did several tours over the next year, but their
final tour (of the United States) featured Donal back in the band
after Michael decided not to make the trip.
They broke up after the tour with Leo going on
to form Tir na Nog in 1970. Meanwhile, Donal focused on making
jewelry for a time until he was ask by Christy Moore to play on the
landmark album, Prosperous. The musicians who played on the
album would go on to form the legendary Planxty, at which point
Donal gave up jewelry making for good.
Brian Byrne went on to achieve fame in the
London production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
In 1973, an article in the August 23 issue of
Spotlight announced Emmet Spiceland was being re-launched with Brian
Byrne as lead vocalist. The band debuted in Carlow and along with Brian, featured a
new lineup: the late Paul Ashford (who had just left the Miami) on bass, 18
year old Honor Heffernan (fresh off her appearance in Jesus Christ
Superstar on guitar and flute), and Mick Carrass (formerly of Sandie
Jones' Boyfriends) on guitars. To coincide with the band's launch,
their single Mary from Dungloe was re-released and Brian's album
"Brian Byrne" was also on release at the time. We are not sure how
long this lineup of the band lasted, but it probably wasn't long as
Paul Ashford was soon a part of Cahir O'Doherty's Dazzle Band in
1974.
click on thumbnails for full image
|
Years |
Vocals/Guitar/Bouzouki |
Vocals/Banjo/Mandolin |
Vocals/Banjo/Mandolin |
Vocals/Guitar/etc. |
|
1965-Emmet Folk |
Donal
Lunny |
Mick
Maloney |
|
Brian
Bolger |
|
1967 |
Donal
Lunny |
Michael
Byrne |
Brian
Byrne |
Brian
Bolger |
|
1967 |
Donal
Lunny |
Michael
Byrne |
Brian
Byrne |
|
|
1969 |
Leo
O'Kelly |
Michael
Byrne |
Brian
Byrne |
|
|
1969 (final tour) |
Leo
O'Kelly |
Donal
Lunny |
Brian
Byrne |
|
1973 - Come back
Revamped lineup |
Paul
Ashford (bass) |
Mick
Carrass (guitars) |
Brian
Byrne |
Honor
Heffernan |
Record Releases (incomplete list):
Singles:
Mary from Dungloe / Hava Nagila
- #1 Irish Charts
Inset Records - IN.702 - 1968
Baidin Fheidhlimi /Nora Bheag -
#6 Irish Charts
Gael Linn Records - CES.002 - 1968
Bunclody / Lowlands Low -
#8 Irish Charts
Page One Records - POF 089 - 1968
So Long Marianne / In Search of Franke
Page One Records - POF 143 - 1969
One Morning in May / The Willow*
Hawk Records - Hasp 328 - 1973
*This single was released when Honor Heffernan was in the
reformed group with
Brian Byrne and Paul Ashford)
Album:
The First
Hawk Records - HALP 166 - 1968
Audio Clips
Coming Soon
Where Are They Now?
 |
Donal Lunny: Donal
became one of the most influential musicians on the Irish
and eventually the International music scene. After leaving
the band, he joined with Christy Moore to form the
groundbreaking traditional band, Planxty, creating a sound
that would change the Irish Traditional music scene forever.
Through the years he has played with a wide range of top
musicians, continuing to spread the influence of Irish music
across the world. Today, he continues to tour and play on
both sides of the Atlantic and around the world. |
 |
Mick Maloney: After
leaving the band, Mick joined The Johnstons who enjoyed
enormous success at home and abroad. After a trip to
Philadelphia in 1973, Mick went to the States to study
folklore at the University of Pennsylvania. Although Mick
had always expected to return to Ireland, he never did and
carved out a musical career for himself in the folk circles
of the States, where he still lives and plays today.
|
 |
Brian Bolger:
Our thanks to Kieran McGregor
who writes to tell us Brian is now prominent in a band in
Montpellier France called Murphy. The band has been running
for more than twenty years. We were also able to find online
a reference that Brian now owns a wine
shop called Catharsun in Montpellier, France. There is a
note on the site that states, "Brian Bolger, Irish and
living in the Languedoc for the past thirty years."
|
 |
Michael Byrne:
Unknown.
If you know more,
please let us know. |
 |
Leo O'Kelly: Leo
joined Tir na nOg after leaving the band and enjoyed many
years of success with them. Today, Leo plays mostly solo and
with his long time friend, bassist Garvan Gallagher, and
increasingly lately, with Sonny in some glorious Tir na nOg
performances. Leo lives in Dublin with his wife and their
six year old son. Another song from Leo's Glare album, "On My
way Home" is to feature in a new movie release, titled
"Trouble With Sex"... Work has started on Leo's third
album... |
 |
Honor Heffernan:
After playing with different artists during the 70's,
Honor's career turned to Jazz in 1983 when she was invited
by Shay Healy to join the Jim Doherty Trio in an
experimental programme, where musicians from different
backgrounds performed together. The experience lead to long
associations with renowned jazz musicians Jim Doherty, Noel
Kelehan and Louis Stewart, and many more of Irelands leading
jazz musicians including drummer Stephen Keogh who produced
her latest album “ Fire and Ice “. Since then she has earned
a reputation as Ireland 's leading Jazz singer. |
|
|
Brian Byrne:
Unknown.
If you know more,
please let us know. |
|
|
Mick Carrass: Unknown.
If you know more,
please let us know. |
 |
Paul Ashford - RIP: After
leaving the Miami, Paul joined Emmet Spiceland for a short
time before a spell with Cahir O'Doherty's Dazzle Band in
the mid 70's. He played with Stepaside with Robbie Brennan in the
late 70's, as well as The Furey Brothers and Dave Arthur, Mike
Hanrahan from Stockton's Wing, Ronnie Drew and spent two
years touring with Jerry Lee Lewis. Paul had numerous song
writing credits along with his own records (One In Every Town, Jenny,
etc.). He played bass with Paul Brady, Mark Knopfler,
Dire Straits, Joe Elliot of Def Leppard, Dolores Keane and
Barbara Dickson, as well as numerous sessions. Sadly he
passed away January 10, 2011. |
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