Monarchs Story (1960-1972)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
The origins of the Monarchs showband started
innocently enough when Jim Connolly, Frank Hogan and Brian Meehan
started playing local dances as the Monarchs Trio. Several of the
members were also part of the Bob Madden Band, one of Limerick's
most popular bands in the mid to late 1950's. We are unsure whether
they left to form the Monarch Trio and then expanded into a
showband, or had played as a trio before joining with the Madden
Band.
One way or another, the band made its debut in
May, 1960 in Abbeyfeale. We think the original lineup included: Jim
Connolly (founder-keyboards and trumpet), Frank Hogan (drums), Brian
Meehan (sax), along with Raymond Heraty (vocals), In 1960, the band
added Dermot Heraty on bass and Terry Malone on trumpet. In 1961,
Terry would be replaced by Joe Louis who proved popular with the
fans, but left the band in late 1962 and was replaced by Brendan
Moynihan, who would stay with the band until around 1969.
In mid 1963, the band declared itself
Limerick's first "professional" showband. Remember that in the early
days, most bands were part timers, working day jobs and playing
music more as a hobby than a profession. However, the band's biggest
change would come as the year came to a close. Tommy Drennan, a boy
singing sensation who had impressed audiences with his singing
talent as a child winning numerous awards for vocal performances had
decided to turn professional in early 1963 and joined the Freshmen,
one of Ireland's best known showbands. However, by the end of the
year, he had grown homesick and returned to Limerick where he joined
the Monarchs and became the final piece to the puzzle that would
catapult the band to national stardom.
In late 1963 the band was due to play New
Year's Eve in Youghal when their van ran into a snow drift five
miles from town. They walked to the hall and arrived at 10:30 p.m.,
too late to play and would end up stuck in the town for another two
nights as snow and then driving rain pounded the coast.
The band released its first single, Boolavogue,
in late 1964 and the record reached number 4 in the Irish charts,
firmly establishing the Monarchs on the dance scene and Tommy
Drennan as one of the era's foremost stars. The record's climb also
provided the first TV exposure for the band as Tommy was featured on
RTE's (then TE's) show "Pickin The Pops."
In 1969, the band lineup included: Bryan Meehan
(keyboards/sax), Dermot Heraty (bass), Frank Hogan (drums), John
Frawley (vocals), Dave McCormack (trumpet), Tommy Drennan (vocals)
and Ray Fitzgerald (guitar).
In August 1970, young vocalist/songwriter Denis
Allen joined the band, replacing Ray Fitzgerald on guitar who left
to study music in Germany. At the same time, Frankie Coughlan
replaced Dermot Heraty on bass. Dermot left the band to take an
executive post with a national company.
In late 1971, the band released a unique record
which featured Tommy Drennan singing a duet with himself with his
younger voice recorded 15 years earlier when he was in the Mount St.
Alphonsus choir. The record, "O Holy Night" went to number one that
year.
In March, 1972, after 10 years together, the
Monarchs split up with Tommy Drennan and Sean O'Dowd forming a new
band, The Top League. Managed by Anna McGoldrick's husband, Michael
Nolan, the new band made their debut in Easter Sunday, 1972.
More to come....
click on thumbnails for full image
Discography
Singles: (our
thanks to Austin Powell for additional catalogue info)
Boolavogue / Blass
This House -
#4 Irish Charts
Ember Records - EMB.S201 - November, 1964
Kevin Barry / Patriot Game
Ember Records - EMB.S213 - Early, 1965
Molly / My Prayer -
#9 Irish Charts
Ember Records - EMB.S214 - April, 1965
I Really Don't Want To Know / Before This Day Ends
Ember Records - EMB.S226 - 1966
Connemara Cradle Song / The Holy Ground -
#16 Irish Charts
Ember Records - EMB.S238 - December, 1966
Pearly Shells (John Frawley) / Thou Shalt Not Steal
Ember Records - EMB.S248 - November, 1967
Sean South of Garryowen (Hughie Trainor) / A Nation Once
Again
Ember Records - EMB.S251 - Early 1968
Rising Of The Moon / Maureen
Ember Records - EMBS.259 - November, 1968
Come Home Rollin' Stone -
#12 Irish Charts
HMV Records - IP.1323 - June, 1969
Where Were You When I Needed You -
#14 Irish Charts
HMV Records - Unknown - September, 1969
Little Boy Lost / Day Is Done -
#6 Irish Charts
Columbia Records - IDB.759 - July, 1970
Love Is A Beautiful Song / Lonely Road -
#12 Irish Charts
Columbia Records - IDB.765 - October, 1970
Share My World
Talisman/EMI Records - Unknown - 1970
Taxes By The Score / Mary Ann Regrets -
#8 Irish Charts
Talisman/EMI Records - 108 785 - June, 1971
O Holy Night / Lonely Without Love -
#1 Irish Charts
Columbia Records - IDB 794 - November, 1971
Albums:
Fifty Years After
Ember Records - EMB.3373 - 1966
The Best Of The
Irish
Ember
Records - EMB.3387 - 1968?
Share My World
Talisman/EMI - Unknown - 1970
Audio Clips
Coming Soon
Where Are They Now?
