Mighty Avons Feature (1961-1983?)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
When the names of the "greatest" or "most
popular" showbands are listed, you probably won't see The Mighty
Avons named among the likes of the the Miami, Dixies, Royal and
Clipper Carlton. However, a feature in the March 15, 1969 issue of
Spotlight announced that the "Avons are Nine Years Together Without A
Change." Formed at the very start of the showband era, the
Mighty Avons, if nothing else, were consistent. To last nearly a
decade without a single lineup a change was a major feat in the
heady days of showband transitions which saw many of the major bands
splintering as the pop vs. country battle raged in the late 60's.
The band first went on the road as the St.
Bridget's Ceili Band, but we are unsure of who was in that original
lineup. When they became the Mighty Avons, the original lineup included: Larry
Cunningham (vocals), Brian Finlay (drums), Ronnie Griffiths
(keyboards/guitar), Gerry Walsh (bass), Mick Brady (guitar) and
brothers Jimmy (trombone), Peter (sax) and Paddy (trumpet) Smith.
Larry had previously been with the Grafton Showband from Gowna
around 1960.
Although the article talked about the longevity of the
outfit, 18 months later Larry Cunningham would leave the band. In
it's early years, the band was a typical showband playing "all
things to all people," but as the split between country and pop
bands become the norm in the late sixties, the band chose the
"country and Irish" route as Larry was one of the all time best
selling artists in this unique genre.
Larry Cunningham was the star of the band from its
inception until his departure in late 1969. The band enjoyed a lot
of success with Larry, but he announced his last gig would be on
August 31, 1969. Despite rumours that he was leaving the band
to get married, Larry explained in a quote in Spotlight that it was
"purely a personal decision for the sake of my health and my
business." As he left the band, Larry released a single from
his own Ramblin Irishman LP, The Ballad of James Connolly
and went on a short tour of England as a "special guest" with the
Plainsmen (both artists were managed by Mick Clerkin) before
returning to Ireland to form his own band, The Blue Boys, which soon
added "country" to their name.
In
September, the Avons announced 24 year old Gene Stuart would take
over as the band's new lead singer and his first appearance with
them was in Tullamore on Friday, September 19th, 1969. Gene had previously been with the Regents
Showband.
In August, 1972 the band announced that Gene
Stuart would be leaving the band for an extended rest as he was
"run down, and tired." According to Spotlight magazine, it
turned out, in the end, he was treated for TB. In his place the band tapped 26 year old
Derry man, Brian Harkin, who would later (April, 1973) front the
Plainsmen after the departure of Dermot Hegarty.
A couple of months later, by November, three
more members of the band were gone, Paddy and brother Peter Smith
left the band to join the ranks of management, while Ronnie
Griffiths left to form his own band, American Pie, which would debut
on Christmas Night, 1972 in Claremorris, Co. Mayo.
By 1974, Larry Cunningham, Ronnie Griffiths,
and Gene Stuart had come and gone. In the October 3rd, 1974 issue of
Spotlight, Pascal Mooney reported on a series of changes in the
band. Martin Geraghty, guitar player with the band for two years was
the featured singer on the band's newest single. Gene Stuart, Gerry
Walsh (bass), John McCaffrey (keyboards), and Brian McCormick
(trumpet) left to form the Homesteaders. However, an advert for the
new band in the December 12th issue of Spotlight said Gene
would "be appearing with the Mighty Avons up until December 22nd and
would start with his new band the
Homesteaders on Christmas night."
To fill the void, the Avons
drafted Brendan Quinn and Hugh McLean. In October, 1974, Brian Finlay
(RIP) also left the
band to concentrate on business interests. The new Homesteaders were
due to hit the road at Christmas. The Avons lineup included Brendan
Quinn (vocals), Hugh McLean (guitar), Martin Geraghty (bass), R.J.
Catterson (drums), Seamus Costello (accordion/keys), John Bates
(trumpet) and Eddie White (sax).
In December, 1978, Hugh McClean left the Avons
to join the band Knoxville. Sometime in mid 1979, the band added a
girl singer, Mary O'Connor, to their ranks and she was soon renamed
Jenny. The band would continue to play the ballroom scene until
early 1983, albeit with none of the original members.
During this time Larry Cunningham seemed to
come back to do concerts and the odd dance and was backed by the
Mighty Avons, but we are unsure if this was the current band (at the
time) or the original lineup.
The band also reformed briefly in 2001 to do a
final tour which kicked off in the Rainbow Ballroom in Glenfarne.
During the tour Gerry Walsh sadly passed away and shortly after
drummer Brian Finlay also passed away.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
Discography
Singles:
Tribute to Jim Reeves / Take My hand Precious Lord
(Larry Cunningham)
-
#9 Irish Charts
King Records - KG.1016 - January, 1965
I Guess I'm Crazy / Don't Make Me Go (Larry Cunningham)
-
#4 Irish Charts
King Records - KG.1020 - April, 1965
Lovely Leitrim / There's That Smile Again (Larry
Cunningham)
-
#1 Irish Charts
King Records - KG.1030 - September, 1965
Among The Wicklow Hills / The World You Left Behind (Larry
Cunningham)
-
#2 Irish Charts
King Records - KG.1034 - April, 1966
Snowflake / The Wild Rapparee (Larry Cunningham)
-
#2 Irish Charts
King Records - KG.1046 - November, 1966
Fool's Paradise (Larry Cunningham)
-
#5 Irish Charts
King Records - Unknown - February, 1967
In The Misty Moonlight / (Larry Cunningham)
King Records - KG.1053 - May, 1967?
Three Steps To The Phone / Cottage On The Borderline
(Larry Cunningham) -
#8 Irish Charts
King Records - KG.1061 - July, 1967
Little Nell / I Dreamed About Mom Last Night (Larry
Cunningham)
King Records - KG.1070 - December, 1967
The Emigrant / The Fugitive (Larry Cunningham)
-
#10 Irish Charts
King Records - KG.1073 - March, 1968
The Great El Tigre / Gweebarra Bay (Larry Cunningham)
-
#17 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.505 - November, 1968
Bracero / The Honkeytonk Downstairs (Larry Cunningham)
Release Records - RL.512 - May, 1969
Ireland's 32 / Jody and the Kid (Brian Finlay)
Dolphin Records - DOS.44 - August, 1969
Before The Next Teardrop Falls / Come On Home and Sing The
Blues To Daddy (Gene Stuart)
-
#3 Irish Charts
Dolphin Records - DOS.53 - December, 1969
I'm Just Lucky I Guess / Then I'll Stop Loving You (Gene
Stuart)
-
#5 Irish Charts
Dolphin Records - DOS.67 - January, 1970
I'd Rather Love and Lose You / I Wish I Had A Nickel (Gene
Stuart)
-
#11 Irish Charts
Velvet Records - Unknown - March, 1971
Don't Go / (Gene Stuart)
-
#9 Irish Charts
Velvet Records - Unknown - July, 1971
Kiss An Angel Good Morning / (Gene Stuart)
-
#6 Irish Charts
Velvet Records - Unknown - March, 1972
Ballad of a Hillbilly / The Ring On Your Finger (Jimmy Smith)
Velvet Records? - Unknown - November, 1972
To See An Angel Cry / Poppa's Wagon (Gene Stuart)
-
#20 Irish Charts
Velvet Records - Unknown - January, 1973
One Day At A Time / How To Talk To A Baby (Gene Stuart)
Velvet Records - VE.033 - August, 1973
Christmas In My Hometown / (Gene Stuart) -
#2 Irish Charts
Hawk Records - Unknown - December, 1973
My Only Fascination / Times May Come (Martin Geraghty)
Hawk Records - Unknown - September, 1974
White Christmas (Bill Quinn, Hugh McLean, Martin Geraghty)
Hawk Records - HASM.2003 - December, 1974
Albums:
 |
Larry Cunningham -
RIP:
After nearly a decade, he formed his own
band, the Country Blue Boys. After scores of hits singles
and record breaking live performances, he got married in
1972 and gave up the grind of the ballroom circuit to focus
on concerts and cabaret. He continued to be a favourite
performer until his sad passing.
Larry's
life was the subject of a great book a couple of years ago by
Tom Gilmore called Larry Cunningham, a Showband Legend. The
quiet man from Granard was one of the true legends of the era
and will be missed by his family, friends and fans around the
world. He sadly passed away 28th September, 2012 aged 74. |
 |
Mickey Brady: If you
can help us
please send an email. |
 |
Gerry Walsh - RIP: Sadly
passed away |
 |
Brian Finlay - RIP:
Sadly passed away suddenly in December 2002 |
 |
Paddy Smith - RIP:
Sadly passed away |
 |
Peter Smith - RIP: Peter
sadly passed away on October 19th, 2021. |
 |
Jimmy Smith - RIP: After
the band broke up, Jimmy managed several other Irish
artists. In 1981, he helped set up the country radio station
TTTR Radio in Dublin. The station would go off the air in
1988 and Jimmy later was involved with the founding of
Galway Bay FM. One of the originals of the showband era,
Jimmy started out with the Avons in 1960. He sadly passed
away on August 15th, 21021 at the age of 83. Our sincere
sympathies are extended to hs family and friends across
Ireland. |
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|
Ronnie Griffiths:
If you can help us
please send an email. |
|
|
Donal O'Dowda:
(replaced Ronnie for six weeks in 1967) |
 |
Gene Stuart - RIP:
After a very successful stint with the Mighty Avons, Gene
left to form his own band, The
Homesteaders. His success continued with his own band which
became one of the top draws on the country
circuit throughout the late seventies and into the 1980;s.
For the last 40 years, Gene remained one of Ireland's best
loved country singers. Sadly, Gene lost a long battle with
cancer on the 11th of February, 2016 and passed away
at the age of 72. |
 |
Brendan Quinn: Still
performing today for audiences across Ireland. If
you can help us
please send an email. |
 |
Brian Harkin - RIP:
Sadly passed away |
 |
John McCafferty -
RIP:
John sadly passed away 26th of July, 2016 - Rita McGinty |
 |
Francis Martin Geraghty -
RIP:
Martin sadly passed away on July 13th, 2009. |
 |
R.J. Catterson - RIP:
R.J. sadly passed away on April 5th, 2019.
If you can help us
please send an email. |
|
|
Brian McCormick:
If you can help us
please send an email. |
 |
Aidan Cunningham -
RIP: An email from John McGrenra in
May, 2019 informed us of the sad passing of Aidan on May
21st, 2018 from cancer.
|
 |
Hugh McLean - RIP: Hugh
left the band and fronted regional band Knoxville for
several years before retiring from the showband circuit.
However, he would entertain fans locally for the next 40
years. He sadly passed away on January 29th 2024. If
you can help us with more info
please send an email. |
