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Marines Showband Gallery (1964 - 1967)

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 this story based on newspaper articles and photographic archives. If you can add anything or correct info in this story, please email us and let us know.

Formed in 1964, the Letterkenny-based Marines Showband was typical of the era when bands got together locally, playing for dances in local ballrooms until a life "on the road" beckoned and each member had to make the decision to "turn professional" and quit their day jobs. As far as we know, the original 1964 lineup included: Ann Duncan (vocals), Pat Duskey (guitar), Alfie Scott (bass), Brendan Duffy (drums), Hughie Doherty (guitar), Fergus Cleary (sax) and Davy Laird (trumpet). The band was managed by Neil Crawford.

According to a report in a 1965 publication, the band turned professional at Easter in (we think) 1964. We also think this may have been when several of the original members (Brendan, Alfie and Fergus) left the band and were replaced by George Hetherington (bass), Colm Callaghan (drums) and Frank McGroary (sax) as of an article in May, 1965 in the Sligo Champion. Although main ly playing around Donegal and the North in their earlier days, by late 1965, the band had started to extend their gigging further south into Sligo, Mayo and Galway.

In November, 1965 a front page story in the Donegal Democrat reported that the band was "missing" in Germany. The story would have a happy ended when another article in December said it was purely a misunderstanding regarding a contract to tour in Germany for three months. They would be home for Christmas.

In April, 1966, the band had the distinction of playing on the same bill as the world famous Everly Brothers in the Silver Slipper Ballroom in Strandhill.

Based on adverts for dances, we found the last one featuring the Marines in late summer, 1967. By that time, Ann had left and John Trotter had been recruited on trombone. The band was being advertised that summer as "Pat Dusky and the Marines Showband."         

In 1967, a Marines Showband was starting out in Cork as well and a few years later another Marines Showband (often called the Swinging Marines) was started in Castleblaney. We are not sure if this band had anything to do with the previous band from Letterkenny.

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image

Marines (ST) - 1965 Marines (JB) Marines (JB) Marines (PL) Marines (PL)
 
Marines - 1965 Marines - 1965 Marines - 1965 Marines - 1966 Coming Soon
Years 3 Guitar Bass Drums Guitar Sax Trumpet Trombone
1964 Ann
Duncan
Pat "Duskey"
Hanna
Alfie
Scott
Brendan
Duffy
Hughie
Doherty
Fergus
Cleary
Davy
Laird
Unknown
May
1965
Ann
Duncan
Pat "Duskey"
Hanna
George
Hetherington
Colm
Callaghan
Hughie
Doherty
Frank
McGroary
Davy
Laird
 
1967 John (Trmbn)
Trotter
Pat "Duskey"
Hanna
George
Hetherington
Colm
Callaghan
Hughie
Doherty
Frank
McGroary
Davy
Laird
 
                 
                 

Discography

S - #3 Irish Charts
M

Audio Clips

         
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?  

Ann Duncan:   Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Pat Dusky:   Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Alfie Scott:   Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Brendan Duffy:   Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Hughie Doherty:   Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Fergus Cleary:   Unknown - if you have info please email us 
Davy Laird - RIP: John Baird tells us that Davy sadly passed away.
Colm Callaghan - RIP: John Baird tells us that Colm sadly passed away.
John Trotter:   Unknown - if you have info please email us 
George Hetheringtron:   Unknown - if you have info please email us 

 


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