Farmers Sons Story (1972-1976)

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The Story (work in progress...excuse our dust)

The first mention we can find about the Farmer's Sons, was an advert from for the CYMS in Kildare in September 1972 when the band was advertised to be "coming next week." However, they were not there the following week and subsequently, it would in October that we found them advertised to play the National Ballroom in Dublin.

Shay Martin wrote to us in January 2018 to say Liam Ryan put the band together, he had been managing the Casino Showband up until 1970, after which they donned their feathers and became the Indians. The original eight piece line-up included: Shay Martin (bass), Bob Condon (keyboards), Kevin Warren (trumpet), Gerry Lynch (trombone), Tom McDonald (vocals), Martin Geraghty (RIP-guitar), Brendan Kearney (drums) and Duncan Dunny (sax). Kevin, Duncan and Gerry had all been members of the Artane Boy's Band. Manager Liam Ryan also ran the National Ballroom and Olympic Ballroom in Dublin and CYMS in Kildare which makes sense given the band's first gigs mentioned above.

Based on the number of adverts we can find in newspaper archives, the band was slow to get going in their first year on the road.  The first changes to their line-up came a year after they first hit the road when original members Brendan Kearney and Martin Geraghty left the band and were replaced by Fergus McElligot (guitar) and Gene Berrill (drums). A year after that, in July, 1974 Shay Martin left the band to join the Garda Siochana (Ireland's police force) and John McGrenra took his place on bass guitar. At some point around this time, the band also went from an eight piece to seven piece line-up. They were basically a country and western band, although like all bands at the time, they would include all styles of music in their programme. What made them different at the time was being a country band with a full brass section. Most of the other country bands had traded their trumpets and trombones for steel guitars and fiddles. 

John takes up the story: "We were rehearsing twice weekly in Moran's Hotel basement on Talbot street in Dublin where some 'unknowns' such as the Boomtown Rats and U2 also used these premises. When we would arrive to practice we bump into the lads and share a joke as you do. The emphasis was on practice, practice, practice the programme, dance steps etc. This was regimentally carried out. Also there’re were lots of photo shoots both in studios and on farms in Co Wicklow.   

The band was featured weekly in Spotlight magazine with Dance Diary and the occasional feature in same. They travelled in two separate Volkswagen vans: one for gear and the other for personnel.

The first to leave was Gerry Lynch trombone who was offered and accepted a position in Band called the Dublin Corporation in Canada who were massive out there and he was replaced in by Gerry Kaye who came from the Garda Band and a brother of Paul Kaye already in the band. Next to part was keyboards Bob Condon who was replaced by Martin Corcoran on keyboards and accordion. Martin came from touring with songstress Anna McGoldrick who was a big name on the scene at that time. Bob from my memory went The Glen Curtin Band. Fergus was next to leave going to The Nevada to be replaced by guitarist Harry Colley RIP who came from rock band Mushroom. Gene Berrill (RIP) then departed going also to the Nevada and he was replaced by drummer John Carroll who came from Danny Doyle Maxi & the Music Box. This line-up continued for a good while lead by the Kaye Twins Paul & Gerry until the band finally folded in late 1975, or early 1976 with myself going to Brian Coll & Buckaroos. The road crew from the start till end was Ben’ O Driscoll assisted occasionally by Steve (Guard) Gallagher."

Finally where are they now
Gene Berrill , Harry Colley RIP
Paul & Gerry Kaye have the Kaye Twins powerhouse brass function band check same on Facebook.
Fergus Mc Elligott is living in and doing his one man show all around Denmark.
Gerry Lynch still living and as far as I know playing in Canada.
Liam Ryan still alive n well living in Dublin

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

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Discography

S - #3 Irish Charts
M

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?