Glensmen Feature (1967
- 1978)
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.
Born in 1923, ballad singer Leo
McCaffrey started singing around his native Antrim in the early
1950's, but soon relocated to New Zealand where he continued his
singing career.
By 1963 he was back in Ireland and singing in local concerts and
festivals. In September of 1963 he went to New York for a six week
tour. An article in the Strabane Chronicle reported that upon his
return from New York Leo had accepted a job with the Northern
Counties Cooperative and was settling in Swatragh in Co.
Derry. For the next few years, Leo continued to perform at concerts
and events, as well as appearing as a guest artist with several
Ceili bands for dances.
The first reference we could find
to Leo playing with his Glensmen was in August, 1967. Because
of Leo's fame across the North since 1963, the band did very well
very quickly. However, their success was limited to Ulster during
1967 and 1968. In fact, the first gig outside the North we could
find was in April, 1970 when the band played in Waterford (although
this doesn't mean it was their first date in the Republic) appearing
alongside Eurovision winner Dana.
In January, 1971 the band released
its first single, "Bethlehem Abbey" on the
Emerald label with "The Mass Rock in the Glen" on the B-side.
Reviews of the record reported it was a "straightforward rendering
that ought to appeal to older people especially" while other reviews
praised the record saying it "catches the spirit of the
countryside." In September of the same year they switch to country
with their single "San Antonio Rose," also on the Emerald label, but
it did not make any impact on the Irish charts.
In August, 1972 the band released
it first (and we think only) album called "McCaffrey's Country,"
once again on the Emerald label. Despite the band's continuing
success, they remained mainly a Northern band playing gigs all
across the six counties and parts of the northwest. At some point
later in 1972, the band released one more single, but on a new
label, R&O Records. "My Mother's Last Goodbye" we think, may have
been their last release.
In April, 1974 Nelius O'Connell
took over managing the band, which had been previously managed by
Leo himself. The move was reportedly an attempt to get the band the
exposure they needed in the southern half of the country. In
February, 1975, Leo released a new album called "A Typical Irishman"
which harkened back to his ballad days with tracks like "Ireland
Mother Ireland" and "The Faughan Side."
In 1977, the band added a female
lead vocalist that was billed as "Big Leo's Singing Discovery,
"Kerry and the Glensmen." The last advert
we could find for the band was in July 1978 in the Belfast
Telegraph. Although we can't confirmed the band went off the road,
we could find no additional gigs for them.
More to come.....
click on thumbnails for full image
