Country Gifts Feature (1978
- 1981)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Editor's note: Every care
has been taken to present only factual information in this story
based on newspaper articles and photographic
archives. If you can add anything or correct info in this story,
please email us and let us know.
17-year-old Eileen King started her showband career in 1968 when she
hit the road with a new country and western band from Navan called
the Kangaroos. He journey from
there to the first gig with her new band Country Gifts
included two separate stints with the Kangaroos, which would change
their name to the Ramblin Rakes, a short time with the Countrymen,
the Hilton Showband and Country Flavour, formerly fronted by
Philomena Begley and she was replaced in the band by Dan O'Hara.
Country Gifts hits the road in September, 1978, nearly a decade
after Eileen joined the Kangaroos. By this point she was a seasoned
professional and one of the top female vocalists on the Irish
country scene. The name of the band was taken from Eileen's most
recent Top Spin album. Even though it was recorded when she was with
Country Flavour, it was used to promote the new band which hit the
ground running, immediately securing bookings across the country but
especially across the northern half of the island.
In March 1980, it was reported
that Eileen was off to Nashville to record a new album and in April
along with many stars form the Irish country scene, the band
appeared at the Wembley International Festival of Country music. In
May, she released her first single with the band,
"What Will I Tell The Folks Back Home" on the Top Spin label.
By now, the band was well established up and down the country, no
longer playing mainly in Donegal and across the north, they were now
playing everywhere.
Despite having a successful year,
by all accounts, in 1980, it was reported in the Strabane Chronicle
on January 31st that Eileen had been off the road for several months
due to illness, but she was now back with her new band, Harmony. The
photo which accompanied the blurb was the same one used in 1979, so
we don't know if this was a name change from Country Gifts, or a new
band line-up.
However, within a few weeks of this announcement, Eileen had
replaced Philomena Begley (for the second time, the first being in
Country Flavour) in the Ramblin'
Men as it was reported Philomena was taking time off to have a
baby, she would stay with them for about 6 months and then form a
new band, The Kingsmen. As far as we can tell Country Gifts
did not continue after Eileen left.
We apologise for a lack of detail
about the line-up of the band, but we will continue to research to
see if we can find out more, if you have any info about the band,
please let us know.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
