December 30th, 2018...Death of John O'Neill of the Old Cross Ceili Band and Country Flavour

Sad news today from John Harrold that John O'Neill, founder member of the Old Cross Ceili Band, has passed away in Co. Tyrone. In 1959, the Old Cross Ceili Band placed fourth in the Ceili band section of the All-Ireland Fleadh held in Thurles. he following year they were 1st place winners in the An Tostal All-Ireland Senior Ceili band contest held in Drumshanbo in May, 1960. That same year, John O'Neill, won the Ulster Senior men's contest at the Fleadh Ceoil held in Swinford, Co. May. In the early 1960's they added a female vocalist, Philomena Begley to lineup and never looked back becoming the Country Flavour and one of the top country bands in Ireland. John would go on to remain one of the top figures on the traditional scene in the North until his passing. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends across Ireland the the UK.   

 

December 8th, 2018...Death of Jim Conlon of the Royal Showband

Sad news today from John Harrold that Jim Conlon, a founder member of the world famous Royal Showband has passed away. Michael Coppinger and Jim Conlon started playing together originally with Michael on accordion and sax Jim on banjo and guitar in the mid-1950's. Together they joined up with the Harry Boland Band, which started in mid-1956, and soon they wanted to expand. "We wanted to play pop and rock music," said Jim, "and we roped in Charlie Matthews, Tom Dunphy and Gerry Cullen" to become the Royal Showband. Other than a short break around 1959, Jim would stay with the band until 1971 when Brendan and Tom formed the Big 8. Jim was also noted as the first owner of Rory Gallagher's famous Stratocaster, which he returned for a red one. He will be sorely missed by his friends in the Irish entertainment world. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family in County Waterford and his friends and fans across the world.

 
November 15, 2018...Death of Sonny Knowles of the Pacific, Clubmen and solo career

Very sad news that showband and cabaret legend Sonny Knowles has passed away at the age of 86. Sonny started his career in 1952 with the Johnny Butler Dance Band playing sax. He would then move on the to Earl Gill Orchestra before becoming a founding member of the Pacific Showband in the early 1960's. By the late 1960, Sonny left the band and joined Dermot O'Brien's Clubmen for a couple of years before he decided to join the ranks of singers on the growing cabaret circuit. For the next 40 years, Sonny was one of the top entertainers on the cabaret and concert scene in Ireland. He was a survivor of cancer twice in recent years and will be sorely missed by his fans around the world. Our sympathies are extended to his family and friends in Ireland and across the world.

 

October 15, 2018...Death of Austin Graham of the Donie Collins Showband.

Sad news today from John Harrold in Limerick that Austin Graham, former singer, guitarist and bassist with the Donie Collins Orchestra and band starting in 1958 has passed away.  Austin started singing in his native Limerick in the late 1950's often being billed as a "singing troubadour." As the featured singer with the band he recorded many singles and Donie often referred to him as one of the main reasons for the band's success. After leaving the showband scene he layed in local Limerick bands including Take Five and the Odd Couple. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family, friends and fans across Ireland.



 

October 9th, 2018...Death of Barbara Ellis of the Duskey Sisters / Fairways

Very sad news today from Sligo that a personal friend, Barbara Ellis, has passed away suddenly. Barbara started her career singing with the Fairways after her sister, Sandy Kelly, joined the band in the mid 1970's. Within a few years, the band added cousin, Marian to the line-up and they became the Duskey Sisters. In 1982, the band hit the big time when the Duskeys represented Ireland in Eurovision singing "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow," which was a chart hit for the band, reaching number 12 in the Irish charts. Although the band broke up around 1983, Barbara would continue to sing often with Sandy in her Patsy Cline show and in 2006, she formed a wedding band called Champagne which played weddings and functions across the country. Barbara retired from the stage several years ago and was living in Dromahair. Her daughter, Sandy Ellis, continues the family tradition and is a part of the young music scene in Sligo. On a personal note, I had known Barbara since 1974 and along with being a great entertainer, she was a very kind and warm person who made everyone feel special, our sympathies to her family and friends at home and abroad.     

August 22nd, 2018...Death of Jimmy Reilly of the Swingtime Aces.

We received word today from Gery Flynn that Jimmy Reilly, drummer with the Swingtime Aces from 1957 through 1972 has passed away in his home town of Athenry, Co. Galway. Along with Derek Kennedy, Jimmy was one of two members who stayed for the band's entire career. After leaving the showband scene Jimmy had a career as a sales representative for Heinz Erin foods. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his wife Kathryn, children Robin, Bob and James and his entire extended family, along with friends and family.

 

 

August 17th, 2018...Death of Greg Bolan...Bumper to Bumper, Supply Demand and Curve, Stagalee, Scullion, Session Player

Sad news today that Greg Boland has passed away at the age of 62. Greg started his career playing with groups around Dublin, including Bumper to Bumper, but was soon one of the most highly sough after sessions players in Ireland. He came to fame with Supply, Demand and Curve and Stagalee. He was a member of the original Scullion played sessions with the likes of Stevie Winwood, Leo Sayer, Carole King, Mary Coughlan, Christy Moore, Moving Hearts, the Davey Spillane Band and many many more.

 

 

July 4th, 2018...New book from legendary showband drummer, Des Hopkins.

News today from Des Hopkins that his new book, "Showbands and All That Jazz, Memoirs of an Irish Drummer" is now available in it second printing in 2018. The book is filled with his memories of a lifetime of playing gigs not only in showbands, but in a variety of jazz bands across Ireland and Europe in the years since, along with his own Cluskey/Hopkins Band. His showband career included stints with Pete Browne and his Band of Renown, The Dixonaires, Gerry and the Ohio, Art Supple and the Victors and finally with his late brother Billy Hopkins in the cabaret group, Just Four in the 1970's and 80's. You can check out details of his book at http://www.dhentertainment.ie/. Our best wishes to Des on the success of his book.

 

 

July 2nd, 2018....New Play about the Floral Hall and the Showband Era

News today from Brenda Palmer, a Belfast-based playwright who has written a play centred on the Floral Hall in Belfast and the fictitious Odyssey Showband during the heady days of the showband era. It will be performed as part of the Eastside Arts Festival on Sunday, August 5th, but she hopes they will eventually get to run it in one of Belfast's local theatres, if funding can be secured. We wish Brenda the best of luck on her project which will bring to life those great showband days of the 1905's and 1960's. Click on the thumbnail left for full photo.


May 18th, 2018....Death of Aidan Cunningham....Blue Boys, Mighty Avons, Farmer's Sons, Cottons

Sad news to from community member John McGrenra, that Aidan Cunningham has passed away. Aidan was one of Ireland's best steel players back in the day and spent time with several big name bands including Larry Cunningham's Blue Boys, the Mighty Avons, Famer's Son and the Cotton Mill Boys.

 

 

 

April 17th, 2018...Death of Big Tom McBride....Mainliners and Travellers

Extremely sad news today that country legend "Big" Tom McBride has passed away at the age of 81. It is impossible to explain the impact Tom had on the showband scene, especially back in the late 1960's when bands started to specialise in either pop or country music. His legendary band, the Mainliners started life in 1963 when Tom came back from several years living in London and they called themselves the Mighty Mainliners with Tom on vocals. It would not be long before Tom took center stage and in 1967, they produced their first top ten single, Gentle Mother. This was followed by many hits included Sunset Years of Life, Four Country Roads and many more. Tom would enjoy charts hits form the next 21 years, his last coming in 1989. One of the most popular stars of the era, the quiet man from Castleblaney remained a superstar throughout the years drawing huge crowds whenever he chose to play. Our sincere sympathies to his family and friends across the world.     


March 17, 2018...Death of Tom Moore...Pumpkinhead and Midnight Well

Sad news from community member Bobby Kelly that American born singer songwriter Thom Moore has passed away after a long illness. He was 74 years old. Thom first came on the Irish scene when he and his partner Kathy Moore, moved to Sligo in 1971 and started singing as a duo in local pubs. Within a year, the couple had joined with Rick and Sandi Epping and formed a group originally called "Jack Pumpkinhead." In 1973 they won the Letterkenny Folk Festival and enjoyed a short career on the Irish folk scene. In the late 1970's he formed Midnight Well with Janie Cribbs, Mairtin O'Connor and Gerry O'Beirne. He left Ireland, returning to California where he formed a band called "Train To Sligo." He would eventually settle in Ireland in later life and was famous for writing songs such as "Cavan Girl," "Saw You Running," and "Carolina Rua." Our sympathies are extended to his wife, Lyuba, family and friends across the world.  

 

March 14, 2018...Death of Liam O'Flynn...Planxty, solo and collaborations with many artists

Born in Kildare in 1945, Liam was one of Ireland's best known masters of the Uilleann pipes. In 1972, he joined with Christy Moore, Donal Lunny and Andy Irvine to form Planxty, the band which would forever change the face of Irish traditional music and whose members have gone on to influence Irish music in the four decades since the band came on the scene. After Planxty broke up, Liam continued to collaborate with artists both at home and abroad working with such luminaries as Kate Bush, Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends and across Ireland and the rest of the world.

 

February 13, 2018....Death of Michael Lynott...Kim Newport Band, Quarrymen

Sad news from Sligo that Michael Lynott, former drummer with the Kim Newport Band and Sean Gallagher's Quarrymen has passed away while on holidays in Malta. "Dick" as he was known back then, started his career playing in local bands in Sligo and was eventually with Sandy Duskey and Easy Listenin' in 1974 (before she joined the Fairways). He would later joined the Kim Newport Band and also played with Sean Gallagher and the Quarrymen. He moved to Spain many years ago and played with the Poco Loco Steel Band for several years and was playing up until his death which was caused by pneumonia. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends both in Ireland and in Spain.
 

 

February 1st, 2018.....Timing is Everything.....Niall Power

Just came across a new book by Niall Power, former drummer with bands from the showband era like the Tony Kenny Band, Rob Strong's Las Vegas, Gibney and Donovan, and Stepaside, as well as a career on the international scene with powerhouse names like the Boomtown Rats, and Westlife. Niall has played with many more bands and his memoir is a great look into a period in Irish entertainment when the country was transitioning from the dominance of the showbands to its own home grown rock scene and finally the place of Irish pop music internationally. Definitely one to look for at your local book shop or online.   

 

 

January 27th, 2018...Death of Pat Lynch...Airchords, Tree Tops

Sad news from John Harrod today that Pat Lynch, one of Cork's best loved entertainers has passed away after a short illness. Pat started his career singing in Cork's Palm Court Ballroom in 1961 and continuing for several years until September, 1964 when he joined the "new" Clipper Carlton after the band had split into two groups, the other being the Santa Fe Showband. By March, 1965 he had moved on to join the Airchords, where he would stay until the band folded n 1973, finishing up as the Tree Tops. He was then with Sandie Jones and the Boyfriends for several more years through the 1970's. He retired from touring and took eventually up teaching and would lecture at the Cork Institute of Technology until his sad passing. Our sincere sympathies are extended to Pat's family and friends both at home and abroad.

January 22nd, 2018....death of Peter "Boy" Roddy...Trend Showband

We received the sad news today from Richard Kelly (drummer with the band) that Peter "Boy" Roddy of the Trend Showband has passed away in Derry. He are awaiting more info...our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends across the country.




 

 

 

January 16th 2018....One Night Stand....a play by Eddie Kerr

We received word from Eddie Kerr, that his play, "One Night Stands" will be opening across the Northwest in February. The play transports the audience to a dancehall on the West Coast of Ireland in 1961. The Barracudas Showband are playing their first gig in a syndicated ballroom and if they do 'it' tonight they can do 'it' anywhere with guaranteed bookings and celebrity status within reach. There has never been a more important night for the band and the punters couldn't get enough and neither could the greedy dancehall owners who formed the syndicate. The play is being performed at four venues across the Northwest, in Letterkenny, Derry, Buncrana, and Strabane so check you local papers for times and dates in February. Our best wishes to Eddie and the entire cast of the show. 

January 12th, 2018.....Death of Frank Gill.....Royal Blues

Sad news today that Frank Gill of the Royal Blues has passed away at the age of 77. Originally from Claremorris, Frank was a founding member of the Royal Blues back in 1963 and played with the band until 1978 after they changed their name to the New Blues. In the late 1980's and 1990's Frank lived in Acton in London and was performing all across Britain and back home in Ireland until very recently. Our sincere sympathies are extended the Frank's wife, Mary, his children, family and friends in Ireland and around the world