All the latest news for 2021 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

27th October, 2021...Death of Barney Fitzgerald (Fitzgerald Ceili Band)

Sad news today from Vincent Gordon that Barney Fitzgerald has sadly passed away while a patient in the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. Born in New York with brother Ritchie and sister, Kathleen, they came to Bundoran and started their Fitzgerald Ceili Band which became one of the best known of the Ceili bands across the country. Both brothers went into business locally after they heyday of the showbands, Ritchie in music retail and Barney in the hospitality business. I was fortunate enough to tour with the band in the early 1970s and worked for the Fitzgerald's for six years. Barney would relocated to Letterkenny in his later years. Our sincere sympathies are extended to Barney's wife, Anne, as well as his sons, extended family, friends and fans across Ireland and the UK.

25th October, 2021...Death of Scott Mulvey (Orphanage, Gentry, Movement)

Extremely sad news today from Anne Lindstrom, Scott's sister, that he passed away suddenly of a stroke while on holidays in Lanzarote on October 25th. Scott had been playing and living in London since the 1980s. He started his career on the Dublin beat scene playing with both the Movement and Orphanage and spent several years with Cahir O'Doherty in the Gentry between 1969 and 1972. He continued to play up tyo a month before his sudden death, Our sincere sympathies are extended to Anne and the entire Mulvey family, as well as his friends and fans in both Ireland and the UK.

19th October, 2021...Death of Peter Smith (Mighty Avons)

Sad news from from Mervyn Tierney (nephew of the late Larry Cunningham) that Peter Smith of the Mighty Avons passed away on October 19th, just two month after the death of his brother Jimmy.  Along with brothers Jimmy and Paddy (RIP) they founded the band which featured the late superstar of Irish country, Larry Cunningham. The band remained unchanged right through the entire decade of the sixties until Larry left to form his own band and was replaced by Gene Stuart.

18th September, 2021...Death of Jimmy Conway (Byelaws, Big 8, Paddy Cole )

Sad news from several of our community members that Jimmy Conway has sadly passed away in Las Vegas where he had lived for many years. From Ballyfermot in Dublin, Jimmy started on the beat group scene in the mid-1960s playing with both the Bye-Laws. More to come.  

17th September, 2021...Death of Ronnie Kennedy (Hoot'nannys, Lions, Johnny McEvoy,

News from John Harrold that Ronnie Kennedy has passed away in Dublin. From Ballyfermot in Dublin, Ronnie started his career in the late 1960s with the Lions Showband before joining a host of the new country outfits including the Hoot'nannys, Johnny McEvoy Band, and eventually becoming a member of Daniel O'Donnell's band for many years.

24th August, 2021...Death of Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones)

Sad news today that Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie Watts has passed away in London at age 80. We don't often feature the passing of international stars but given the importance of bands like the Beatles and Stones to the early showbands, we know that many of those musicians took their lead from these contemporaries from the UIK. There is little to say about Charlie and the Stones which hasn't already been said but I am sure many of the showbands musicians still alive will feel a little tinge of sadness at his passing. Like so many of the stars of those early days, there are fewer and fewer around and it is just a reminder that we should be cherishing the musicians who brought the era of the showbands and beat groups to the world stage. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family, bandmates and friends around the world.

15th August, 2021...Death of Jimmy Smith (Mighty Avons)

Very sad news from Mervyn Tierney, that Jimmy Smith of the Mighty Avons has passed away. He was 83 years old. A founding member of the Mighty Avons, along with brothers Peter and Paddy (RIP) which featured the late superstar of Irish country, Larry Cunningham. The band remained unchanged right through the entire decade of the sixties until Larry left to form his own band and was replaced by Gene Stuart. Jimmy would be heavily involved in the management of other bands as well as playing with the Avons. Following his departure from The Avons, Jimmy, ever the entrepreneur, set up TTTR radio in Dublin in 1981. He later went on to help with the establishment of Galway Bay FM. One of the originals of the showband era, Jimmy will be sorely missed and we extend our sympathies to his family, relatives and friends across the country. 

5th August, 2021...Death of Gerry Rice (Witnesses Showband)

Sad news today from Dr. Brian Rice, son of Gerry Rice of the Witnesses Showband that his dad passed away on August 5th, 2021. He told us Gerry continued to live in Belfast with his wife, Eilish and five children. From the 70s onwards he worked as a freelance/session musician. His work diary included sessions with the BBC Concert Orchestra, The Ulster Orchestra and working with in-house bands for RTE, BBC and ITV. Gerry also worked at the Grand Opera House, Belfast for 25 years playing in the pantomime, operas, ballets and musicals. He had a residency with his own Gerry Rice Quartet in the Europa Hotel for 22 years. Our sincere sympathies are extended to Gerry's wife, Eilish, his children, extended family and friends.

July 28th, 2021...Death of Sean Lucey (Dixies)

Sad news today from community member Donal Cronin that Sean Lucey of the Dixies has sadly passed away, Sean, along with Joe McCarthy and Theo Cahill founded the band that would become the Dixies back in 1954. The band, origfinally called the Dixielanders, would finally go "pro" in 1960 and take the showband world by storm. Along with the Royal (Waterford), Capitol (Dublin), and Drifters (Mullingar), the Cork-based Dixies would remain one of the top bands of the era. In 1972, Joe and lead singer Brendan O'Brien would leave the band forming Stage 2. Sean and the Dixies would continue on with Sandie Jones, Rory O'Connor and Joe O'Toole on lead vocals at various times. The original Dixies would reunite in 1982 and enjoy a prolonged :second wind" long after the heyday on the showbands. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his wife, Mary, children and extended family in Cork and around the world. He was one of the true pioneers of the era.

May 28th, 2021...Death of Tony (Dick) O'Leary (Uptown Band, Capitol, Smokeys, Gallowglass)

Sad news today from community member John Harrold that Tony O'Leary (real name Richard) has sadly passed away after a long illness. Tony started his career singing with the Uptown Band in the late 1960s while studying for this degree in Commerce. He then joined the Capitol showband in 1969, replacing John Drummond as the band's lead singer. Following this, he moved over to take over singing duties for the Smokey Mountain Ramblers. He would eventually join the Gallowglass Ceili band, which he ended up running and changing the name to just the Gallowglass. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family, relatives and friends.

May 8th, 2021....Death of Joe Monks (Sun Valley Boys)

Sad news today from Helen Walsh that Joe Monks aged 73, formerly of the Sun Valley Boys, has sadly passed away on May 8th, 2021. Joe, from Rush, died suddenly in the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. Joe started his career in the late 60s playing with the Pirates Showband. He wrote an entry for the 1970 National Song Contest which was sung by Tony O'Leary called "She Meant Everything to Me" while he was a 22 year old engineering student. In April, 1970, Joe was a founding member of the Sun Valley Boys, which featured Denis Bowler on vocals and formed by ex members of the Cadets Showband. Joe would continue to write songs for the band, occasionally with his brother, Eric. In 1976 Joe joined with showband veteran Jim Farley in a new band. As far as we know, after leaving the showbands, Joe went into business with brother Eric building homes in the Dublin area. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends.    

May 3rd, 2021....Death of Mick McManus (Cotton Mill Boys, )

Sad news today from several members of our community including Paddy Redmond and Mick's daughter, Majella, that the famous fiddler passed away in his native Fermanagh on May 3rd. More info will be added as soon as we have it. Our sincere sympathies are extended to Mick's family, friends and fans around the world.






 

April 9th, 2021....Death of Shay Healy

Very sad news today that Shay Healy, singer, songwriter, journalist and broadcaster, has passed away aged 78 after struggling with Parkinson's Disease for many years. Shay started his career singing on the Dublin ballad scene in 1966 at at one point was part of the Danny Doyle show where he was described as "the man who knocks the establishment." He would soon move into the world of journalism writing on the ballad scene for papers and Spotlight magazine. From there, he entered the world of television. In 1980, he wrote the song that brought Johnny Logan to international fame with "What's Another Year." Although as far as we know Shay was never in a showband, his impact on the Irish music scene is undeniable. He will be sadly missed. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family, fans and friends around the world.

March 23rd, 2021...Death of Noel Bridgeman...Skid Row, Gentry, Plattermen

Sad news today from several sources that legendary Irish drummer, Noel Bridgeman, 74, has died after a short battle with cancer. Although Noel would in later years become one of the best known drummers in the country and play with people like Christy Moore, the Waterboys and others, his start came first on the beat scene in Dublin with the supergroup Skid Row, and then on the ballroom circuit with bands like the Gentry and Plattermen. Noel continued to play and record on the Dublin scene up until his untimely passing. Our sincer sympathies are extended to his family and freiends around the world.

March 20th, 2021....Death of Harry Smyth (aka Mark Mitchell)...Silhouettes

March 9th, 2021...Death of Trevor Kane (College Boys, Tony G. Ford & the Seekers, Boom Boom Room)

Sad news today from community member Teddie Palmer that Trevor Kane has passed away at the age of 88 years old. A manager and promoter, Trevor managed the College Boys, as well as the Boom Boom Room and the Royal Ballroom in Dundonald. Trevor was also credited with bringing the Beatles to the King's Hall in Belfast where the band played two shows on the one night (shows were much shorter then). In more recent years he was active promoter on the Northern entertainment scene running shows and concerts across Ulster. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends.

 

February 10th, 2021...."Still Going Strong, " New book about Rob Strong by Paul Holland

We received in the mail today a great new book penned by Paul Holland about one of the legends of the showband era, Rob Strong. The "Official Rob Strong Biography" traces his humble beginnings in the Swingtown Camp outside Derry through his early days playing with local groups and his showband debut with the Polka Dots in 1965 and beyond. He went on to join the famous Plattermen country band starring the late Brian Coll in 1967 before heading off on his own, first with Las Vegas and eventually through his own Rob Strong Band. The book is full of stories from the era, as well as personal comments from a diverse group of musicians like Niall Power, Eric Bell and George Jones. Paul has done an excellent job weaving together the details of Rob's illustrious career and personal life with personal anecdotes about Rob from his musical peers from the era. Still going strong today, Rob continues to entertain fans across the country with his unique voice and gutsy blues and rock vocals. If you want to know more about one of Ireland's most enduring and talented entertainers, the book is a must read. For more info check out Amazon.com

January 23rd, 2021...Death of Joe Mulcahy (Maurice Mulcahy Band)

Sad news today from community member John Harrold, that Joe Mulcahy, brother of the late Maurice Mulcahy has passed away. The Maurice Mulcahy band was formed in 1952 and for more than a decade built up a solid following across the entire country. In fact, in the fifties when a new ballroom was opened, more often than not the Mulcahy band was called in to do the honours. Maurice sadly passed away in 1963 and Joe stepped forward to lead the band through the the next three decades and into 1991 as far as we can tell. Joe was the last surviving sibling of the four Mulcahy brothers that started the band...Maurice, Joe, David and Michael. Our sincere sympathies are extended to the Mulcahy family and the bands fans and friends across the country.

January 2nd, 2021...Death of Liam Reilly (Bagatelle)

Sad news today from Teddie Palmer that Liam Reilly has passed away suddenly aged 65. Lead singer and songwriter, Liam was the driving force behind Bagatelle's meteoric rise to success in the late 1970's. He penned and sang hits like "Second Violin" and "Summer in Dublin" as the band ushered in a new age when Irish groups could make it big and remain at home, rather than going off to London as so many bands did in the 1960s and early 1970s. Over the years, Bagatelle would come and go, touring on and off up until very recently when original guitarist John O'Brien passed away in April, 2019. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family, friends and fans around the world.