The largest digital showband archive in the world!
Based In Sligo, Ireland / email: showbands@gmsproductions.com

With thanks to Irish Newspaper Archives: https://irishnewsarchive.com

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Country and Western Band Photos (D through H) - 472 photos

Click on letters for sorted photos   A-B  C  D-H   I-L   M-P    Q-Z   Big Tom

On this page, we pay tribute to the hundreds of country bands that entertained Irish audiences back in the "good old days." After the steam ran out of the showband engine, bands generally disbanded or regrouped as either "pop" or "country." In the beginning, the bands played the same circuit as the ballrooms were large enough to accommodate alternating pop and country nights outfits without affecting attendance. However, as the ballroom crowds shrunk and more hotels got into the dance business, the gigs got more specialized, further increasing competition among the bands.

"Country music" nights became a regular feature of hotels and clubs around the country. Country acts also found it easier to move into the cabaret scene. While discos appealed to the young crowds, in the end, it was the country segment of the industry that survived the longest. Most likely, this was because of the broader appeal of country music to an aging audience.

One of the most unusual aspects of the Irish country scene was the "invention" of a new musical style particular to Ireland, dubbed "Country and Irish." With the success of artists like Big Tom, Margo, Larry Cunningham, Philomena Begley, and others, this new style of bastardized country music took the dancing public by storm, while also creating a divide between those that enjoyed the new music and those that preferred their country music on the "western" side. As American country music (on which the Irish model had been based) continued to morph through the seventies and eighties, the Irish version remain relatively unchanged, causing some critics to further deride the music as unoriginal and without merit.          

If anyone takes exception to having these photos exhibited on our website, please let us know and we'll remove them immediately. Thanks. By the way, if you know where any of these bands are today, please click here. 

Acknowledgements: Our special thanks to Shaun Magee, Dick Lynott, David Dwane, Anthony Grace, Francis Kennedy, Teddie Palmer, Jan Lynch, Kathleen Smith, Declan Colgan, Peter Kinsey, Joe Dodd, Brian "Shorty" O'Kane, Andy Monk, and Alan Carr for additional photos. All photos are identified with contributor's initials (see full details at bottom of page).

Click on a thumbnail photo to see a full size image and additional information.

The Hillbillies (KS)

The Hoot'nannys (FM) Mary Duff - 1990's (BK) Ray Lynam & The Hillbillies Roly Daniels & Green County
T.R. Dallas (Tom Allen) Gloria Ronnie Griffiths and Driftwood Dermot Henry Hugo Duncan
Sean Gallagher of The Quarrymen - 1973 Johnny Flynn Sound Grainne of the Strangers Brian Harkin John Glenn of the Wranglers
Eamon & the Headliners Farmer's Sons - 1975 Tony O'Leary and The Gallowglass (TP) John Glenn joins the Mainliners - 1975  Dermot Hegarty -1975
Sean Thompson & the Everglades - 1973 Sharon of the Green Forest - 1973 Sean Quinn of Down County - 1973 Everglades - 1973 Brendan Hughes & the Huskies - 1973
Roly Daniels & Green County - 1973 Mattie Fox & the Grassroots - 1973 Hugo Duncan - 1973 Danny Doyle of The Music Box - 1973 Pat Ely
Bridie Gallagher (DD) Ray Lynam & The Hillbillies - 1973 Ray Lynam & The Hillbillies (DD) The Farmer's Sons (JM) Roly Daniels & Green County ('74) (DL)
Brian Harkin Mick Flavin & his band - 1989 (DD) John Glenn (DD) Hoot'nannys (JD) Hoot'nannys (JD)
Mary Lou and Harvest - 1973 Anne Lynch & Hugo Duncan (AL) Ronnie Griffiths of American Pie - 1973 Mattie Fox of the Grassroots - 1973 Sean Dunphy - 1973

Jim Tobin and the Firehouse (KS)

Ray Lynam and the Hillbillies (KS)

Dermot Hegarty (KS)

Jim Tobin and the Firehouse (KS)

Dan and the Farmers (KS)

Jim Tobin and the Firehouse (KS)

Tony Hughes of the Cotton Mill Boys (KS)

Sean Dunphy & the Hoedowners (KS)

Jim Tobin and the Firehouse (KS)

Mattie Fox and the Grassroots (KS)

Jim Tobin and the Firehouse (KS)

Ray Lynam and the Hillbillies (KS)

Hoot'nanny's - 1971 (FM)

Gene Stuart & The Homesteaders (KS)

Roly Daniels & Green County-1971 (KS)
Roly Daniels (LR) Green County - 1974 (LR) Harvest - 1974 (LR) Danny Doyle & Maxi (LR) Dermot Henry (LR)
Evelyn & The Envoys  (JB) Mick Delahunty Jr. Ray Lynam & The Hillbillies (LR) Evelyn & The Envoys (LR) Harvest - 1973

Brian Harkin - Dec,1973

Johnny Flynn Sound (JB) Sean Dunphy (KS) Everglades (LR) Jim Tobin & The Firehouse (LR)
Ray Lynam & The Hillbillies Hawaii Five-0 (BW) Johnny Flynn (PH) Brian Harkin - 1978 (PH) Ray Lynam & The Hillbillies (PH)
Brian Harkin's Band (PH) Downtown Express (PH) Pat Ely - 1970 Danny Doyle - 1971 Duggie Jane & her Country Rock Band (PH)
Ray Lynam & The Hillbillies Harvest (PH) Hoedowners - 1971 Hoedowners - 1971 Everglades - 1971
Dermot Henry - 1971 Danny Doyle & Maxi - 1971 Roly Daniels - 1971 Jerry Fahy - 1971 Roly Daniels (LR)
Hoot'nanny's - 1971 Granada - 1979 (PH) Down County (NC) Down County (NC) Downlanders (MM)
Brendan Hughes & The Huskeys (CM) Enabarts (PG) Hugo Duncan (KS) Hugo Duncan (KS)

The Hillbillies (KS)

Paddy Day (KS) Dermot Hegarty (KS) TR Dallas (KS) TR Dallas (KS) Gloria (LR)
Roly Daniels (LR) John Glenn (LR) Hugo Duncan (LR) John Glenn John Glenn
Dermot Henry - 1974 Dermot Henry - 1971 Dermot Henry - 1971 Dermot Henry - 1970 Dermot Henry - 1970
Dermot Henry - 1972 Dermot Henry - 1971 Dermot Henry - 1971 Dermot Henry - 1971 Dermot Henry - 1971
Dermot Henry - 1970 Dermot Henry - 1970 Dermot Henry - 1970 Dermot Henry - 1970

Jim Tobin and the Firehouse (BD)

Grassroots (KM)

Harvest - 1974

Hi-Lows (DT)

Hi-Lows (DT)

Hi-Lows (DT)

Hi-Lows (DT)

Hi-Lows-1962 (DT)

Hi-Lows-1977 (DT)

Hi-Lows-1977 (DT)

Pat Ely - 1971
Pat Ely - 1971 Pat Ely - 1969 Pat Ely - 1971 Green County-1972 Brian Harkin Band (RF)
Brian Harkin Band (RF) Brian Harkin Band (RF) Brian Harkin Band (RF) Brian Harkin Band (RF) TR Dallas (RF)
TR Dallas (RF) Dermot Hegarty - 1971 Dermot Hegarty - 1971 Dermot Hegarty - 1968

Dermot Hegarty - 1967

Dermot Hegarty - 1970

Dermot Hegarty - 1970

Dermot Hegarty - 1970

Dermot Hegarty - 1972

Dermot Hegarty - 1970

Dermot Hegarty - 1969

Dermot Hegarty - 1972

Dermot Hegarty - 1971

Dermot Hegarty - 1970

Dermot Hegarty - 1974

Dermot Hegarty - 1974

Danny & Maxi (RF) Danny & Maxi (RF) Danny & Maxi (RF) Danny & Maxi (RF)
Danny Doyle (RF) Danny Doyle (RF) Danny Doyle (RF) Danny Doyle (RF) Downtown Express (RF)
Downtown Express (RF) Driftwood (RF) Driftwood (RF) Driftwood (RF) Driftwood (RF)
Driftwood (RF) Driftwood (RF) Driftwood (RF) Entertainers (RF) Entertainers (RF)
Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF)
Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF)
Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF)
Everglades (RF) Everglades (RF) Escorts (RF) Escorts (RF) Escorts (RF)
Escorts (RF) Farmers (RF) Farmers (RF) Farmers Sons (RF) Farmers Sons (RF)
Farmers Sons (RF) Farmers Sons (RF) Farmers Sons (RF) Farmers Sons (RF) Farmers Sons (RF)
Farmers Sons (RF) Firehouse (RF) Firehouse (RF) Firehouse (RF) Firehouse (RF)
Firehouse (RF) Firehouse (RF) Firehouse (RF) Firehouse (RF) Firehouse (RF)
Firehouse (RF) Firehouse (RF) Firehouse (RF) Firehouse (RF) Firehouse (RF)
Firehouse (RF)

Firehouse - 1971

Firehouse - 1971

Firehouse - 1971

Firehouse - 1971

Firehouse - 1970

Firehouse - 1969

Firehouse - 1971

Firehouse - 1970

Firehouse - 1970

Firehouse - 1971

Firehouse - 1970

Hoot'nanny's - 1970 Hoot'nanny's - 1971 Hoot'nanny's - 1971
Hoot'nanny's - 1972 Hoot'nanny's - 1973 Hoot'nanny's - 1973 Hoot'nanny's - 1973 Hoot'nanny's - 1973
Hoot'nanny's - 1975 Dermot Henry - 1971 Dermot Henry - 1971 Dermot Henry - 1971 Dermot Henry - 1972
Dermot Henry - 1972 Dermot Henry - 1972 Dermot Henry - 1972 Dermot Henry - 1972 Dermot Henry - 1972
Dermot Henry - 1972 Dermot Henry - 1972 Dermot Henry - 1974 Dermot Henry - 1974 Dermot Henry - 1975
Danny Doyle - 1971 Danny Doyle - 1971 Danny Doyle - 1971 Danny Doyle - 1972 Danny Doyle - 1972
Danny Doyle - 1973 Danny Doyle - 1973 Danny Doyle - 1974 Danny Doyle - 1975 Danny Doyle - 1975
Danny & Maxi - 1972 Danny & Maxi - 1972 Danny & Maxi - 1972 Danny & Maxi - 1973 Danny & Maxi - 1973
Danny & Maxi - 1973 Fugitives (RF) Fugitives - 1971 Fugitives - 1971 Fugitives - 1971
Fugitives - 1971 Fugitives - 1972 Gamblers (RF) Glen Country (RF) Glen Country (RF)
Glensmen (RF) Glensmen (RF) Glensmen (RF) Glensmen (RF) Gloria (RF)
Gloria (RF) Gloria (RF) Gloria (RF) Gold Rush (RF) Gold Rush (RF)
Gold Rush (RF) Gold Rush (RF) Gold Rush (RF) Gold Rush (RF) Grassroots (RF)
Grassroots (RF) Grassroots (RF) Grassroots (RF) Grassroots (RF) Grassroots (RF)
Grassroots (RF) Grassroots (RF) Grassroots (RF) Grassroots (RF) Grassroots (RF)
Grassroots (RF) Grassroots (RF) Grassroots (RF) Green County (RF) Green County (RF)
Green County (RF) Green County (RF) Green County (RF) Green County (RF) Green County (RF)
Green County (RF) Green County (RF) Green Forest (RF) Green Forest (RF) Green Forest (RF)
Green Forest (RF) Green Forest (RF) Green Valley (RF) Green Valley (RF) Harvest (RF)
Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF)
Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF)
Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF)
Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF)
Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF) Harvest (RF)
Harvest (RF) Hawaii Five-0 (RF) Hawaii Five-0 (RF) Headlines (RF) Herdsmen (Wexford) (RF)
Herdsmen (Wexford) (RF) Highwaymen (RF) Highwaymen (RF) Highwaymen (RF) Highwaymen (RF)
Hi-Landers (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF)
Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF)
Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF)
Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF)
Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF)
Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF)
Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF)
Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF)
Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF)
Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF)
Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF) Hillbillies (RF)
Homesteaders (RF) Homesteaders (RF) Homesteaders (RF) Homesteaders (RF) Homesteaders (RF)
Homesteaders (RF) Homesteaders (RF) Homesteaders (RF) Homesteaders (RF) Homesteaders (RF)
Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF)
Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF)
Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF) Hoot'nannys (RF)
Horizons (RF) Horizons (RF) Horizons (RF) Horizons (RF) Horizons (RF)
Horizons (RF) Horizons (RF) John Greer (RF) Dawnbreakers (SQ) Dawnbreakers (SQ)
Roly Daniels (RF) Roly Daniels (RF) Roly Daniels (RF) Roly Daniels (RF) Roly Daniels (RF)
Roly Daniels (RF) Roly Daniels (RF) Roly Daniels (RF) Roly Daniels (RF) Highwaymen (RF)
   
Highwaymen (RF) Highwaymen (RF) Highwaymen (RF) Coming Soon Coming Soon
         
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon
         
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon
         
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon
         
Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon Coming Soon

Additional Photo Credits:

(AG) - Photos contributed by Anthony Grace
(SM) - Photos contributed by Shaun Magee
(FK) - Photos contributed by Francis Kennedy
(TP) - Photos contributed by Teddie Palmer
(DD) - Photos contributed by David Dwane
(DL) - Photos contributed by Dick Lynott
(JM) - Photos contributed by John McGrenra
(JD) - Photos contributed by Joe Dodd
(AL) - Photos contributed by Anne Lynch
(JL) - Photos contributed by Jan Lynch
(KS) - Photos contributed by Kathleen Smith
(FM) - Photos contributed by Frankie McGirr 
(JG) - Photos contributed by Johnny Gallagher 
(NC) - Photos contributed by Noel Cunningham
(MM) - Photos contributed by Martin Monaghan
(CM) - Photos contributed by Colum McCaffrey
(BD) - Photos contributed by Bridget Dearney
(KM) - Photos contributed by Ken McGregor
 


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