News

All the latest news for 2019 on the site and the scene.....

Click here for our news archives including articles from Irish papers

Headlines from:
2022-2021-2020-2019-2018-2017-2016-2015-2014-2013-2012-2011-2010-2009-2008-2007

December 26th. 2019.....Death of Dick Hayes (Decca Showband)

Sad news that Dick Hayes, former lead singer with the Decca Showband has died suddenly at the age of 74. Dick played in England before joining the Decca Showband in 1965 and would remain with them until they broke up in 1969. At that point, he joined with his wife Nancy doing the cabaret circuit for a couple of years when he invited his old friend and former Decca bandmate Michael Casey to join them and they became a three piece. Nancy would soon retire and by the mid to late 1970's the boys add another former bandmate Vic Bible (guitar) and John Hayes on bass to play the local circuit around Waterford as "Dick, Mick, Vic and John." Our sincere sympathies are extended to his wife, Nancy, sons David, John and Ritchie along with his grandchildren and extended family, friends and fans across Ireland and the UK.

December 18th, 2019...Death of Arty McGlynn (Buckaroos, Plattermen,

Very sad news that Arty McGlynn, one of Ireland's best known musicians has passed away age 75 after a long illness. Many tributes published upon his passing discuss his career as one of the best known proponents of traditional music including his solo albums and stints with bands like Planxty and Patrick Street, however, he started his career with the showbands alongside Brian Coll in both the Plattermen and Buckaroos before turning to his folk roots in the mid 1970's. He also worked with his wife, the revered fiddle player Nollaig Casey, on four albums throughout the years. Other artists he worked with included Liam Og O’Flynn (RIP), Christy Moore, Frankie Gavin, Four Men and a Dog, and many many more. He will be sorely missed by family and friends across Ireland and the rest of the world. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family.

November 28th, 2019....Death of Philip Donnelly (Elmer Fudd, Gary Moore Band, Donovan, Plattermen)

Sad news today from Paul Lyttle that Philip Donnelly, one of Ireland greatest musical exports has passed away. Philip started his career as part of the beat group scene and and around Dublin and was soon part of the showband world joining the Plattermen in the early 1970's. However, Philip would go on to not only fame across Ireland, but across the world playing with stars from many genres of music including the Gary Moore Band, Johnny Cash, Everly Brothers, Donovan and John Prine. He would spent many years living in Nashville where he played on hundreds of tracks as a session player. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family, friends and fans around the world.

November 4th, 2019....Death of Gay Byrne

Sad news today that legendary entertainment figure, Gay Byrne has passed away at the age of 85 after a two year battle with cancer. Although not a musician or singer, "Gaybo" as he was affectionately known to the Irish people, was instrumental in helping the careers of many of the era's stars. In the late 1960's Gay wrote a series of articles for Spotlight magazine called "This Showband Thing" in which he commented on the fast growing scene and what the future might hold for the showbands. Of course, he also featured hundreds of the era's biggest (and perhaps more importantly - newest) stars on the "Late Late Show" which he started hosting in July, 1962 until he left the show in 1999. Back in those days, a spot on the Late Late could turn a local band or singer into a nationwide star as basically EVERYBODY watched the show. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his wife of 55 years, Kathleen, his family, friends and fans across Ireland and the rest of the world. It is doubtful there will ever be another Gay Byrne in our lifetimes.

13th October, 2019...Death of Danny Kelly Jr. (Johnny Flynn Band)

Sad news from Andy Newman that Danny Kelly Jr of the Johnny Flynn Band sadly passed away on October 13th, 2019. Danny followed in his father's footsteps, joining the band in 1958 on trombone.

October 7th, 2019....Death of Larry Carolan (Premier Aces)

Sad news today from community member John Harrold that Larry Carolan, formerly of the Premier Aces, has passed away in Kells, Co. Meath. A member of the band for over a decade, Larry was living in Kells for many years and as far as we know was still singing at least up until a few years ago. In late 2004, he recorded a song which commemorated the ancient history of a place called Loughcrew in Co. Meath. Loughcrew is a site of rich historical, archaeological and religious interest. There are cairns (passage graves) on the hill. The song was composed by Mary Ann Flanagan-Geraghty from Kells and Larry added the music. It received a number of airplays on Shannonside Radio where it was featured by Eddie Murphy on his regular shows. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends across the country.

September 19, 2019....Death of Sandie Jones (Royal Earls, Dixies, Boyfriends, Jones Gang)

Sad news from community member John Harrold that Sandie Jones, one of the era's top female vocalists, has sadly passed away at the age of 68 in the United States. Sandie had been ill since last May. She started her career at the age of 17 with the Royal Earls Showband. Her first record, Reflections of You, was the released the following year. In 1972 when Joe Mac and Brendan O'Brien left the Dixies to form Stage 2, Sandie was asked to join the Dixies to replace the two stars. At the same time, she sang the winning song in the National Song Contest, Ceol An Ghra written by Joe Burkett and and Liam MacUistan from Dublin For the next year, Sandie was a major star as she represented Ireland in Eurovision. She would eventually form her own bands, the Boyfriends and the Jones Gang. By 1983, Sandie left the scene and left Ireland, in initially going to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates with husband Tony and ending up in the United States where she lived until her death. Our sincere sympathies are extended to her family, especially, daughter Bre, and her family and friends across the world.

September 7th, 2019...Death of Brendan "Brendy" Duffy (Marines Showband and Envoys Showband).

Sad news today from community member John Harrold that Brendan Duffy, drummer with both the Marines Showband and Evelyn and the Envoys has passed away in Letterkenny. Although we don't have much info on his career, we know that he played with local groups for many years after he left the showband scene. Our sincere sympathies are extended to is wife, Helen, son Brendan, daughter Yvonne Shevlin and his extended family and friends across the country.

September 5th, 2019....Death of Robert "Bobby" Kelly (Hootenannys, Greenbeats, Chosen Few, Sands, Stepaside, Chris Meehan's Redneck Friends)

Extremely sad news today that my close friend, Bobby Kelly, has passed away after a long illness aged 74. Bobby's career spanned almost a half century as he started with Dublin group, the Hootenannys around 1963. He then joined the Chosen Few in 1965 and went on to the Greenbeats. He moved back to the Chosen Few where he was a band mate of the late Fran O'Toole and made the jump to the major showband ranks with the Sands Showband after they split from the Miami in 1967. At the time, they were one of the biggest bands in the country. In the 90's and early 2000's, he performed as a two piece with his friend, Francie Lenehan. He was also an original member of both Stepaside and Chris Meehan's Redneck Friends with whom he had played for over 30 years until he retired from performing in 2018. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his wife, Catherine, his family and his many friends both at home in Strandhill, Co. Sligo where he lived for the past 20 plus years, his birthplace of Dublin, and his many fans and friends around the world.

September 3rd, 2019....Death of Ray Wickham (St. Mary's Ceili Band).

Sad news today from his cousin, Paul Wickham, that Ray Wickham has passed away in his home town of Sligo. Ray was with the band on guitar in 1964 when he was just 19 and afterwards emigrated to the United States where he played music for many years. He would eventually return to Sligo and retired from music. Ray passed away peacefully in the Stroke Unit, Sligo University Hospital. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his sisters, Finola and Brenda and brother-in-laws Paul and Vincent. He will be sadly missed by his extended family and friends at home and abroad. friends.

August 25th, 2019...Death of Sean Devlin (Green Angels, Frankie and the Echoes, Seasons)

Word today from Dennis Osborne that Sean Devlin, lead guitarist with the Green Angels SHowband, Frankie and the Echoes and the Season Showband passed away on August 25th, 2019. Sean had emigrated to Australia in the 1970's after his career in the showbands and continued to play music "down under" for many years. He is survived by his two daughters and we extend our sincere sympathies to is family and friends at home and away.

August 24th, 2019....Death of Jim Tobin (Firehouse)

Sad news today from community member John Harrold that Jim Tobin, former lead singer with the Firehouse, has passed away after battling motor neuron disease for the last year. He was 74 years old. Jim played with local band, The Craftsmen, in his native Westmeath before joining the Firehouse in late 1969. Over the next decade he would release over a dozen singles, four of which would enter the Irish charts with his recording of "Welcome John Paul" hitting the number one spot in August 1979. He also released two albums: Jim Tobin Remembers Jim Reeves in 1971 and The Rhythm of Love in 1977. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends across the country.

August 5th, 2019.....Death of Danny Doyle (Music Box, Solo)

Very sad news today that Danny Doyle has passed away at the age of 79. Danny was one of the pioneers of the folk scene back in the mid-sixties and along with folk singers like Johnny McEvoy, he would soon make the transition to the showband circuit, although not very successfully. It was early 1965 when Danny started on the path to a career in music. In a 1967 Spotlight interview Danny said, "When I left school I didn't know what to do with myself. I worked in a shop but there was no future in it. It just wasn't me." He would eventually become of of Ireland's most successful ballad and folk singers with hits like "A Daisy A Day," "Whiskey on a Sunday" and "Rare Auld Times." He would continue to tour internationally until his death.

July 27, 2019....Death of Terry McCarthy....(Dixies)

Sad news from member John Harrold that Terry McCarthy, who took over the lead singing duties in the reformed Dixies after the departure of Brendan O'Brien (RIP) in 1985, has passed away at Cork University Hospital on July 27th, 2019. After the Dixies finally left the road in the early 1990's, he could be heard singing around the Cork area especially with Donal Ring, Jr. and taking part in showband reunion concerts right up until shortly before his death. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his wife Marie and his extended family and friends in the Cork area and across the rest of the country

July 23, 2019....Death of Maurice Henry (Freshmen)

Sad news to day from community member John Harrold that Maurice Henry, original member of the Freshmen passed away on July 23rd. Maurice was with the band from their inception in 1962 until he retired from the road in 1972. He then went into the hotel and pub trade in 1973, first with the Antrim Arms Hotel in Glenarm and then the Glynns Bar in Ballymoney. He retired in 1997 and lived in Ballymena. His son Michael told us a few years ago that he was living across the street from original Freshmen vocalist Barney McKeown. Sadly Maurice passed away on the 23rd July, 2019. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his wife, Sally and his family and friends across the country.

July 11th, 2019....Death of Brendan Grace (Gingermen, Solo)

Extremely sad news today, initially from Bobby Kelly, but obviously national news that singer and comedian Brendan Grace has passed away a short time after he announced he was suffering from lung cancer. He was 68 years old. Brendan started his career at age 16 singing on the folk circuit around Dublin. His first real success came with the Gingermen, but soon he was out on his own and enjoyed a string of hit records in the 1970's and 1980's. He had several television shows on RTE during those decades as well as starring in musical theatre. He eventually moved to Florida with his wife of 45 years, Eileen, but returned to Ireland annually to tour the concert circuit with his unique brand of Irish humour. One of the few entertainers that can truly be called a "national treasure" Brendan's comedy, talent and wit will be sorely missed by his family, friends and fans in Ireland, the United States and across the world.

June 26th, 2019....Death of Seamus McMahon (Mainliners)

Sad news today from several members of our community that Seamus McMahon, guitarist with the Mainliners, has passed away in Dundalk after a brief illness. Brother of sax player, Henry, Seamus had been playing in local groups and for social dancing in a band called Showbud when Big Tom was not touring (and latterly the Mainliners with John Glenn). Along with Tom McBride and Cyril McDevitt, Seamus is the third original member of the band to pass away and he will be sorely missed by family and friends across Ireland, England and the rest of the world. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family, daughters Fionna and Maressa, sister Mary (McSkeane), brother Henry and his extended family at home and abroad

May 28, 2019....Death of Vinnie Somers....Niagra, Powermen, Plainsmen

Sad news today from Joe McDonagh that his former bandmate Vinnie Somers had passed away at the age of 68 following his fight with Leukaemia. We had also recently received an email from his son, Vincent Jr., in early May telling us his Dad had retired and after leaving the showband, had played with local group Marie and the Wild Life for over 20 years. I also had the pleasure of playing with Vinnie back in the 1970's when he made the switch from brass to bass, he was a great guy and will be sorely missed. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his wife, Valerie, along with his four sons and nine grandchildren and his extended family and friends in Sligo and across the country.

May 22, 2019...Death of Dee (Damien) Leydon...Powermen

Sad news today that Dee Leydon, former vocalist with the Powermen has passed away in Sligo University Hospital after a long illness. Dee came on the scene in the last 1960's with his local band the Lincoln Express which featured many Sligo musicians who would go onto the ranks of other showbands. In 1973 he took his own band, the Powermen on the road and di well for a few years before returning to Sligo. Dee would eventually move to Frenchpark in Co. Roscommon and had retired from performing due to ill health a few years before his passing. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his wife, Margaret, son Morgan, daughters Laura, Corinna and Sharonto and his family and friends both at home and abroad.

May 11, 2019....Death of Mick Roche....Arrows, Miami, Vampires, Dublin Corporation

Sad news from community member, Bobby Kelly, that Mick Roche, former vocalist with the Vampires, Arrows, Miami and finally the Dublin Corporation has passed away. In September, 1969, Mick was playing with Dublin group, the Vampires, when he was offered the lead singer spot with the Arrows, a new pop band which had been formed earlier in the year. He would stay with the band until 1972 when the Arrows were drafted as Dickie Rock's new band. Within a short time he had joined the new Dublin Corporation (formerly the Pacific) and the band went to Canada. He would return to Ireland in 1973 and joined the Miami as lead singer for a short time. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends across Ireland and Canada. Our thanks also to John Harrold for telling about his sad passing.

May 4th, 2019...Death of Don Duggan....Footappers and Savoy Showband.

Sad new today from community member John Harrold that John (Don) Duggan of Waterford has sadly passed away. Don was the vocalist with Waterford's Savoy Showband as well as the Footappers Showband in the 1960's and 1970's. Don will be sadly missed by his wife, Rebecca, sons Jim and John, daughters Eileen, Sarahjane, Rebecca and Martha and his extended family and friends across the country.

April 26th, 2019...Death of John O'Brien....Bagatelle, Big Four

Sad news today that John O'Brien, one of the founders of 1970's supergroup, Bagatelle, has passed away at the age of 78 after a short illness. Bagatelle created the timeless anthems "Summer in Dublin," "Trump Card" and "Second Violin." The founding members were John, Liam Reilly, Ken Doyle and Wally McConville. To some extent, the band's music would define a new generation of Irish music originality with new bands springing and recording their own music in the late 1970's and beyond. The band continues to tour today. John will be sadly missed by his loving daughter Susan,and a wide circle of friends and fans across Ireland and the world.

April 5th, 2019....Death of R.J. Catterson....Mighty Avons

Sad news today from community member John Harrold that R.J. Catterson, former drummer with the Mighty Avons in the mid-1970's, has passed away peacefully at his home in Castlederg, Co. Tyrone. R.J. joined the band after the departure of the late Brian Finlay who left the band in October, 1974 to focus on business interests after being the band's drummer for over 13 years. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen and children Damien, Paul Brian, Jenny, Catriona and Mark. Our since sympathies are extended to his family and friends across the country.

April 1st, 2019....Death of John Minehane...Regal Showband

Very sad news today from a variety of sources, letting us know that John Minehane of the Regal Showband passed away on April 1st, 2019. Especially sad is the fact that his death comes just a few weeks after fellow band mate Declan Ryan in mid March (see below). A founder member of the Regal, John was 88 years old. Along with Paddy O'Sullivan, John was with the band from its inception in 1950 to its final days on the road in early 1972. He is survived by his children Louis, Mario, John, Alan and Kenneth. Our sincere sympathies are extended his his family and friends in his native Cork and around the country.

March 31st, 2019....Death of Collette O'Hanlon (a.k.a. Sharon King - Cotton Mill Boys)

Very sad news today from our friend John McGrenra that Collette passed away suddenly at her home in Clonsilla. Sharon was singing in cabaret spots around Dublin in the late 1970's and was spotted by the Cotton Mill Boys who were looking for a female vocalist. She spent a few years with the band and was then on the road with Xerxes, a band which was formed and managed by Gerry Madigan in the mid 1980's after the Cottons went off the road. Originally from Blanchardstown, she is survived her daughter Grace, brothers Damien, Noel and Lorcan and sisters Michelle and Adrienne. Our sincere sympathies are extended to her family and friends across the country.

March 28th, 2019....Death of Paddy Hanrahan...(Sahara Showband, Oklahoma)

Sad news today from John Harrold and Gerry O'Hara that the death has occurred of Paddy Hanrahan, on March 28th at his home in Banagher, Co. Offaly, he was 79 years old. Paddy came on the scene in the mid-1960's as lead singer with the Sahara Showband from Longford and the Oklahoma Showband a few years later. As far as we know, he released at least three singles including "Barely Beatin' Broken Heart" in 1970 while with the Sahara. Originally from Clondra, Co. Longford, Paddy is survived by wife wife, Mary and son Aida. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends across the country. If you can add anything to our knowledge of Paddy's life, please email us with any info...thanks.

March 18th, 2019...Death of Declan Ryan...(Regal Showband, Arrivals Showband)

Sad news today from multiple sources that Declan Ryan, formerly of the Regal and Arrivals showbands has passed away in Cork. Declan joined the Regal in or around 1962 and would sing with them until 1965 when the band split in two with half of the musicians forming the new Arrivals Showband, also fronted by Declan. He sang lead on several singles including the Regal's top ten hit, "I Need You" in 1964 and also "My Wishful Dreaming" for the Arrivals in 1966. He is survived by his wife, Pamela and children Jackie, Gillian, Suzanne, Gerard and Shane. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends across Ireland and the UK.

March 3rd, 2019...Death of Ger Cusack...(Empire Showband)

Sad news today that Ger Cusack, founding member of the Empire Showband, passed away aged 77 after a long illness. He wrote and recorded the band's only single in 1966 (which was unusual back then). He left the band in late 1966 and formed the Ger Cusack Quintet. He would remain heavily involved in the music scene in and around Limerick for the rest of his life. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his wife, Patsy and children Karen, Susan, Diane, Laura & Ger and to his extended family and friends around Ireland and the rest of the world.

February 7th, 2019...Death of Arthur Murphy (aka Mark Dwayne)...Solo artist, RTE presenter

Very sad news that Arthur Murphy has passed away aged 90 after a short illness. Arthur's passing is of special meaning to me, personally, as I got to know him very well in the early 1980s when he presented his "Arthur Murphy's Soundcheck" programme on RTE Radio 2. He was one of several DJs at the time that really did his best to promote Irish records and artists whenever they could. Most people aren't aware that he was a singer and the host of RTE's (then TE) second light entertainment show, "Allegro 2-3-4" which debuted on July 8th, 1962, unfortunately before RTE's signal was being broadcast nationwide. He recorded several singles as Mark Dwayne for the Oriole label in the late 1950s and was signed by head of Parlophone George Martin (yes, THE George Martin) in 1957. Many will know him as host of RTE television "Mailbag" for many years.