Plainsmen Feature (1969 - 1980)

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

The Story

Dermot Hegarty started his career as a solo ballad/folk singer in Ireland and like several of his peers of the time (Johnny McEvoy and Danny Doyle being the most notable) he had several major hits as a solo artists including the "Shores of Amerikay" in 1967 and "Mary Ann Regrets" in 1968. Before long he was teamed up with a new band, The Plainsmen. who hit the road on Easter Sunday - April 7th, 1969 playing in Cork's Arcadia ballroom. The band was formed at the same time as the country and western rage was sweeping the country. Bands like the Cotton Mill Boys, Virginians, Plainsmen and others were seeking to emulate the success enjoyed by bands like the Smokey Mountain Ramblers, who had been around for a some time.

The original lineup of the band included Dermot (vocals & accordion), Roger Farrell (guitar), Seamus Roddy (bass and Musical Director), Pat Hogan (guitar-formerly of the Monarchs, Sahara and Gallowglass Ceili Band), Tony Farrell (drums), Vinnie Somers (sax), and Francie Middleton (trumpet). The band hit the road as a seven piece, but soon realised something was missing. In May, 1969, the band announced the addition of Owin St. John, a fiddle player from Nashville and the Plainsmen were complete. The band was managed by Mick Clerkin of Release Records.

The band released two singles in 1969, neither of which made much of an impact as neither made the charts, unlike Dermot's earlier hit records. At the end of the year, the band lost its fiddler when Owin St. John left to join the Country Folk, a new band being formed to showcase the talents of Donegal singer, Margo O'Donnell (sister of Daniel). He was replaced by Armagh based Barry "Barney" McCusker, who could play fiddle and sax and had most recently been with the Gaylords Showband.

In 1970, Dermot released "21 Years" which ended up topping the Irish charts for 16 weeks and was more in line with the type of music he had sung as a solo folk singer. Only Dana's Eurovision winner (Ireland's first) All Kinds of Everything outsold Dermot's massive hit, but was not at the top of the charts as long as "21 Years." By early 1970, the band was being managed by Peter Sheridan and with a number one hit, they were poised to take the country by storm. In late 1970, they were featured in a massive country show held in London's Royal Albert Hall on the 22nd of November.

In an article in the February 15, 1973 issue of Spotlight, Pascal Mooney reported a split in the band. At the time, he said Frank McKenna had left to go to the States and Vinnie Somers left the band reportedly to team up with Brian Harkin's new band, Harkansas. Tony Farrell was also reported to be leaving the band to go into the boutique business. We will try to find out what happened because two months later, Brian Harkin was the lead singer with the Plainsmen and it was Dermot Hegarty who was gone from the band. Additionally we think Seamus Roddy may have switched to drums, but we can't find any info to validate this.

In the April 26, 1973 issue of Spotlight, Pascal Mooney was once again highlighting the band, this time reporting that he had received word from their Manager, Peter Sheridan, that Dermot Hegarty was leaving the band to move into the cabaret scene. It was also reported that Brian Harkin (who had recently finished standing in for Gene Stuart in the Mighty Avons) was joining the band which helps explain the earlier confusion. They also added as new bass player at the time, Barry O'Mahony. Newspaper reports at the time put the date of the changeover from Hegarty to Harkin as May 11th. However, an advert for the Granada Ballroom (see below) said Brian Harkin was joining the band on April 29th, so we assume both singers may have been with the band for almost 2 weeks. Around this time Vinnie Somers who left the band along with Tony Farrell, briefly join the Sligo-based Powermen in mid-1973.

In December, 1973, Pascal Mooney reported that Roger Farrell had also left the band leaving Seamus Roddy and Francie Middleton as the only original members of the lineup. Roger would form a group called the Roger Farrell Sound. Dermot formed his own trio with Frank McKenna (guitar) and Brendan Kearney (drums) and hit the cabaret circuit.

When the dust finally settled, the new lineup of the band was Brian Harkin (vocals), Vinny Baker (RIP- guitar), Francie Canning (keyboards), Barry O'Mahony (bass), Seamus Roddy (drums), Barry McCusker (sax) and Francie Middleton (trumpet). The following summer (August, 1974) an article in Spotlight reported that Dermot was doing quite well with his trio on the cabaret scene, including stints in the United States where he toured for six weeks.

Meanwhile, the Plainsmen, fronted by Brian Harkin, continued to do well on the ballroom scene. Their singles, Forgive Me For Calling You Darling (number 12) and Walk On By (number 18), both made the Irish charts, firmly establish Brian as the new front man with the band.

In April, 1977, a front page article in the Longford Leader newspaper reported the band had split up over playing gigs in the North of Ireland. It was reported that only Brian Harkin and keyboard player Francie Canning remained. What followed was a period of confusion as it was announced that a new set of musicians was recruited and the band would now be called the Brian Harkin Band. In June, the new band was unveiled with the promise of a single soon from manager Peter Sheridan. In late June, it was reported in the Donegal News that the Plainsmen were still looking for a singer to replace Brian. Ex-Plainsmen Tony McDermott and Barney McCusker would join up with Dermot Hegarty's group after the split in late July 1977.

Even though the new band was announced and cards with the new name printed (see below), it appears that within just a couple of months, the band was being referred to one again as the Plainsmen, and would continue to be known as the Plainsmen until they split up in 1980. Around this time, adverts started to appear for Brian Harkin and his "new cabaret act." The last advertised gig for the band we found was in The Village Inn, Pettigo, Co. Donegal on August 31, 1980.

A decade later, the history of the band would be remembered for the wrong reason when Brian Harkin suddenly died on January 28, 1991 after a short illness, he was only 47.

More to come.....

Photo Gallery

click on thumbnails for full image


Dermot Hegarty - 1967	Dermot Hegarty - 1968	Plainsmen - 1969	Dermot Hegarty - 1969	Plainsmen - 1969

Plainsmen - 1969	Plainsmen - 1969	Plainsmen - 1969	Plainsmen - 1969 (DD)	Plainsmen - 1969 (KS)

Plainsmen - 1970	Dermot Hegarty - 1970 (KS)	Dermot Hegartyx	Dermot Hegarty - 1970	Plainsmen - 1970

Dermot Hegarty - 1970	Dermot Hegarty - 1970	Dermot Hegarty - 1970	Dermot Hegarty - 1970	Plainsmen (RF)

Plainsmen - 1970	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (DL)	Dermot Hegarty - 1970	Dermot Hegarty (KS)

Dermot Hegarty - 1971	Plainsmen - 1971 (RF)	Plainsmen - 1971	Dermot Hegarty - 1971	Dermot Hegarty - 1972

Dermot Hegarty - 1972	Plainsmen - 1972	Dermot Hegarty - 1972	Dermot Hegarty - 1972	Dermot Hegarty - 1972

Dermot Hegarty - 1972	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen - 1969	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)

Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)

Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)

Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)

Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)

Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen - 1973	Brian Harkin

Plainsmen - 1973	Plainsmen - 1973 (LR)	Plainsmen - 1973	Plainsmen - 1974 (DL)	Plainsmen - 1973

Brian Harkin	Brian Harkin	Brian Harkin's Band (PH)	Brian Harkin Band (RF)	Brian Harkin Band (RF)

Plainsmen - 1976 (PH)	Brian Harkin - 1973	Brian Harkin	Plainsmen - 1973 (RF)	Plainsmen - 1973

Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Brian Harkin Band (RF)	Brian Harkin Band (RF)	Brian Harkin Band (RF)

Dermot Hegarty -1975	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)

Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)	Plainsmen (RF)

Plainsmen (RF)	Brian Harkin - 1991	Plainsmen - 1974	Plainsmen - 1974	Coming Soon

Coming Soon	Coming Soon	Coming Soon	Coming Soon	Coming Soon

Lineup Changes

Years	Vocals	Guitar	Keyboards	Bass	Drums	Fiddle/Sax	Sax	Trumpet
April 1969	Dermot Hegarty	Pat Hogan	Roger Farrell	Seamus Roddy	Tony Farrell		Vinnie Somers	Francie Middleton
May 1969	Dermot Hegarty	Pat Hogan	Roger Farrell	Seamus Roddy	Tony Farrell	Owin St. John	Vinnie Somers	Francie Middleton
1970	Dermot Hegarty	Frank McKenna	Roger Farrell	Seamus Roddy	Tony Farrell	Barney McCusker	Vinnie Somers	Francie Middleton
Dec 1972	Dermot Hegarty	Frank McKenna	Roger Farrell	Seamus Roddy	Tony Farrell	Barney McCusker	Vinnie Somers	Francie Middleton
Jan 1973	Dermot Hegarty	Vinnie Baker	Roger Farrell	Seamus Roddy	Unknown	Barney McCusker		Francie Middleton
May 1973	Brian Harkin	Vinnie Baker	Roger Farrell	Barry O'Mahony	Seamus Roddy	Barney McCusker		Francie Middleton
Dec? 1973	Brian Harkin	Vinnie Baker	Francie Canning	Barry O'Mahony	Seamus Roddy	Barney McCusker		Francie Middleton
1975	Brian Harkin	Tony McDermott	Francie Canning	Martin Gildea	Chris Collum	Barney McCusker		Francie Middleton
April 1977	Brian Harkin	Donnach Woods	Francie Canning	Seamus Hussey?	Unknown	Gerry O'Connor
Aug 1978	Brian Harkin	Donnach Woods	Unknown	Seamus Hussey?	Unknown	Gerry O'Connor

Discography (more to come)

Singles:

Dermot Hegarty Solo:
The Shores of Amerikay / Wild Colonial Boy (Dermot Hegarty Solo) - #4 Irish Charts
King Records - KG.1064 - September, 1967
Circle Game (Dermot Hegarty Solo)
King Records - Unknown - May, 1968
Mary Ann Regrets / Galway Bay (Dermot Hegarty Solo) - #15 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.502 - September, 1968
Wings Of A Dove / Finlola (Dermot Hegarty Solo)
Release Records - RL.507 - 1969
Plainsmen:
The Gay Galtee Mountains / Jimmy Brown The Newsboy (Plainsmen)
Release Records - RL 517 - June, 1969
Misty Rolling Midlands / Time to Move Again (Plainsmen)
Release Records - RL.525 - September, 1969
Twenty One Years / Sing Me Back Home (Plainsmen) - #1 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.533 - January, 1970
I'll Be There / The Spinning Wheel (Plainsmen) - #15 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.570 - February, 1971
Two Little Girls In Blue / There's A Bridle Hanging On the Wall (Plainsmen)
Release Records - RL 582 - June, 1971
Love Is Teasing / Paddy's Navy (Plainsmen) - #7 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.604 - December, 1971
Four Green Fields / England's Motorway (Plainsmen) - #5 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.626 - March, 1972
4 Great Irish Hits EP (Plainsmen) - #4 Irish Charts
Release Records - MRL,1001 - July, 1972
After Twenty One Years / Carnlough Bay (Plainsmen) - #9 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.644 - September, 1972
4 Great Irish Hits EP, Volume 2 (Plainsmen) - #10 Irish Charts
Release Records - MRL.1002 - October, 1972
No, It's Not Love (Brian Harkin)
Release Records - Unknown - May, 1973
Send Me No Roses / To Get To You (Brian Harkin)
Release Records - RL.684 - August, 1973
Forgive Me For Calling You Darling / Derravarra's Water / Poppin Johnny (Brian Harkin) - #12 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.699 - October, 1973
Walk On By (Brian Harkin) - #18 Irish Charts
Release Records - Unknown - June, 1974
If We Make It Through December / Bobby Wants A Puppy Dog For Christmas (Brian Harkin)
Release Records - Unknown- December, 1974
Holding Things Together / (Brian Harkin)
Release Records - Unknown - April, 1975
If We're Back in Love By Monday / I Still Miss Someone (Brian Harkin)
Release Records - Unknown - July, 1975
Ramblin Boy / I'd Love To Say I Love You (Brian Harkin) - #16 Irish Charts
Release Records - RL.803 - April, 1976

Albums:

The Hits of Ireland's Dermot Hegarty
Release Records - BRL.4001 - November, 1969
Ireland's Most Wanted Band
Release Records - BRL.4002 - November, 1969
Dermot Hegarty Sings 21 Years
Release Records - SRL.3001 - 1970
The Irish Side of Dermot Hegarty
Release Records - SRL.3006 - 1971
On Stage
Release Records - BRL.4026 - 1972
The Hits of Ireland's Dermot Hegarty. Vol 2
Release Records - BRL.4027 - 1972
Brian Harkin Favourites
Release Records - Unknown - December, 1974

Audio Clips

Coming Soon

Where Are They Now?

	Dermot Hegarty: Dermot would leave the band in May, 1973 and return to the cabaret scene across Ireland and England, although playing much bigger venues for a lot more money than before his stint with the Plainsmen. He would continue to have hits records for the next few years charting with The Black Velvet Band (1976), Only Her Rivers Run Free (1975) and 19 Men in 1974. Dermot now lives in England, but still comes back to Ireland to tour regularly and is still going strong.
	Pat Hogan: We know that in 1971 Pat Hogan was playing the pub circuit around Longford with drummer Martin Sweeney. Dermot Hegarty contacted us in April, 2020 to tell us Pat now resides in Salt Mills, Co. Wexford. He has retired but is still involved in charity work.
	Roger Farrell: Roger Farrell after he left the Plainsmen formed a cabaret group for the local Longford Circuit. He has now retired and lives in Ballymahon Co.Longford. From Dermot Hegarty...April 2020.
	Seamus Roddy - RIP: Seamus would play in local bands for many years after leaving the Plainsmen. Vinny Baker wrote us in 2011 telling us Roddy had sadly passed away after a long illness on September 22nd, 2011 aged only 64. Vinny would pass away in 2013 (see below). If you know more, please email us.
	Tony Farrell: If you know more, please email us.
	Vinnie Somers - RIP: After leaving the showband scene, Vinnie moved back to his native Sligo and switched to bass, playing with local groups for many years (including one I was with). He would raise four sons and have nine grandchildren. His son, Vincent, wrote to me in early May, 2019 to say Vinnie had retired and was 68 years old. Sadly, Vinnie passed away less than a month later from Leukemia on May 28th, 2019. Our sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends around the country, especially his wife, Valerie..
	Francie Middleton: Francie still lives in Sligo and for the last 35 years (as of 2020) he has been involved with his family owned transportation business. As far as we know, he no longer performs. If you know more, please email us.
	Owin St. John: If you know more, please email us.
	Frank McKenna: Dermot Hegarty contacted us in April, 2020 to tell us: "Frank McKenna now resides in New York State and Is semi retired. He works Dermot Henry and The Joanie Madden cruises. He also works with me when I tour the USA. Still one of the best pickers I have worked with." Dermot Hegarty
	Barney McCusker: Dermot Hegarty contact us in April 2020 to tell us Barney now resides in Armagh and is involved in the family business.
	Brian Harkin - RIP: Brian relocated from his native Derry to Longford when he joined the band and would continue with his own Brian Harkin Band after the Plainsmen folded in 1981. He continued to entertain on the cabaret circuit through the 1980's and also worked as an electrician. Brian sadly passed away suddenly on January 28, 1991 after a short illness, he was only 47..
	Vinnie Baker - RIP: In 1982, Vinny quit the business and took a job in a factory and stopped playing guitar for about 4 years. He got back into playing when he started teaching his son and was soon into recording trying to have his own songs demo'd. The recording bug took Vinny and he was soon the owner of a new recording studio with a live recording room that doubles as a classroom to do guitar lessons in. He released his first solo album, 'So', in 2003 and he continued to play and record regularly with the Tennessee Country Breakdown Band, along with other groups throughout the Midlands and across the country until his death. Sadly, Vinnie died very suddenly on the 20th of July, 2013. Our sympathies are extended to his family and friends.
	Brian O'Mahony: If you know more, please email us.
	Francie Canning: If you know more, please email us.
	Tony McDermott: If you know more, please email us.
	Martin Gildea: If you know more, please email us.
	Chris Collum: If you know more, please email us.

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