Shaun O'Dowd and Ding-A-Ling Gallery (1975-1986)

Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now?

The Story

Shaun, from Jamestown in County Leitrim, was the son of local singing star Phyllis Glancy who had her own Dance Orchestra in the mid 1950's. Growing up, Shaun and his seven siblings heard stories of the dances and ballrooms where his mother played. His father was a school teacher which made for the strange combination of calling him "Sir" at school and "Dad" at home.

Besides his musical mother, Shaun's biggest influence was Elvis Presley. During a 2015 interview with Steven Travers on Irish TV's Showband Stories, he told the story about hearing Elvis on the radio for the first time. "It stopped me in my tracks. I wanted to be Elvis, I wanted to sing like Elvis, I wanted to talk like Elvis. Everything...it just took me over."

By 1962, Shaun felt he was ready and formed his first band, The Telstars (named after the Tornado's hit record at the time). After several years of following showbands, asking questions about every aspect of having a band, he knew they needed suits. Shaun's father stepped in and purchased second hand suits from Ben Dolan of the Drifters for suits which the band had stopped wearing. "They were red and we thought we were the bees knees," said Shaun.

and herIn August, 1975 in a shock announcement, Tommy Drennan left the Top League for a career in cabaret. It was announced in Spotlight that Shaun O'Dowd would be taking over and the band would be changing its name. The band would become Dingaling.

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image


Tommy Drennan & Top League - 1973	Top League - 1973 (LR)	Sean O'Dowd of Dingaling	Shaun O'Dowd - 1975 (LR)	Shaun O'Dowd-'88 (DD)

Shaun O'Dowd (PH)	Ding-A-Ling (RF)	Ding-A-Ling (RF)	Ding-A-Ling (RF)	Ding-A-Ling (RF)

Ding-A-Ling (RF)	Coming Soon	Coming Soon	Coming Soon	Coming Soon

Lineup Changes

Years	Vocals	Guitar	Bass	Drums	Keyboards	Sax	Trumpet
1975	Shaun O'Dowd	Dennis Allen	Bobby O'Driscoll	Tom Frost	Brian O'Grady	Pat McDonald	Noel O'Toole
		Sean Kenny
		Peter Creighton

Discography

Singles:

Silver Moon / Smile Little Lady (with the Top League) - #9 Irish Charts
Release Records - Unknown - June, 1974
For the Kids
Unknown Records - Unknown - September, 1975
Bye Bye Frauline - #4 Irish Charts
Release Records - Unknown - June, 1976
Those Rockin' Sounds / Goodbye Love
Play Records - PLAY 94 - 1976
Gary Don't Go
Release Records - Unknown - March, 1976
Ooh I Love That Boogie Beat / You're My One and Only
Release Records - RL 883 - 1977
A Place In Your Heart / Mary - #20 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL 936 - September, 1978
Have A Ding-A-Ling Christmas / Don't Ever Let It End
Release Records - RL 904 - December, 1978
Reach Out / Hey Dixie - #11 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.966 - June, 1979
The Password Is Love / Love Grows
Release Records - RL 999 - 1980
You Are No Angel / Let Me Go - #13 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.1058 - June, 1981
It's Good To See You / Broken Down Angel - #19 Irish Charts
Ritz Records - RITZ.023 - January, 1982
Lonely But Only For You - #25 Irish Charts
Ritz Records - Unknown - August, 1984
Making Movies / Where Did You Learn To Love - #14 Irish Charts
Ritz Records - Unknown - July, 1985
Love Hurts / Sing Me That Song Again
Unknown Records - Unknown - 1985
I'm Only In It For the Love / Dig A Little Deeper in the Well
Angel Records - S.001 - 198?

Albums:

Rockin' Sounds
Release Records - BRL 4093 - 1977
Crossing Over
K-Tel Records - KLP 130 - 1983

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?

	Shaun O'Dowd: As far as we know, Shaun and the band went of the road in the mid eighties and he has been performing as a solo artist ever since. He continues to gig and post to social media on a regular basis.
	Denis Allen:
	Brian O'Driscoll:
	Tom Frost:
	Brian O'Grady:
	Pat McDonald:
	Noel O'Toole - RIP: Noel sadly passed away June 21st, 2025.
	Sean Kenny - RIP: Sean, who had been with the Jivenaires showband, left the Times when Jimmy and Tommy Swarbrigg departed to form The Swarbrigg's Band (also to be known as "Winter" for a short while). In the early 1980's he joined Shaun O'Dowd and Dingaling. Sean was playing the local pub scene and occasionally reunited with the Jivenaires up until his death on 9th February, 2011 after a long illness. Our sincere sympathies to his family and friends. .
	Peter Creighton:

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