We appreciate you taking the time to register for our bulletin boards. The key to a successful web-based community is input and involvement from it members, so please feel free to post your thoughts, questions, or ideas pertaining to the irish dance scene from 1950 through 1990 and beyond. We appreciate your time and hope you wil enjoy the site.  

Hi Every one hope this finds all punters in good health
I would just to thank Gerry for putting to- gether a good usable site . Its is also interesting to see so many of the Blaneys Sound Bands named but dont forget the greatest of them all The Paddy Cole Superstars,there where that many bands came out of the Tony Loughman stable it would be impossible to name,  there one week and gone the next,God Bless him

We once appeared on the same bill as Paddy's band in 1982 I think on the Gerry Ryan hosted "Non Stop Pop." We have a photo on the band on the website too, they had a good run at it...Whatever happened to Tony Loughman?

With the raise of the showband scene,in various guises
weather it be Keith and The Showband Show with his guests or George Jones and company taking over The Waterfront in Belfast, it has Suprized me we have not heard from The King of Blaney Management .Is there one out there,who remembers The Top Rank Superstars and there Monday Nights of Music and Sport.Not only was there the band management but the hall and hotel management ,his bands mostly played his venue, nice work if you can get it!Gerry with the appearance of this site are we going to see a furture appearance from you and yours as you know I do not come home as much as I would like to due to business commitments So give me a lot of notice

Hi,

That would be a lot of fun, but from what I gather, tougher to pull off these days. I see a lot of the older showband stars doing nostalgia gigs, but not too many from our era...we're kind of in between...too old to be hip, but too young to be nostalgia! On the other hand...you never know!!!! Thanks for staying in touch!

Just discovered your great site - thank you!

Anything on Gregory Donaghey or the Carlton Showband in the future would be appreciated!  I'd like to see what they're all up to now days.

Thanks again! :D

We are constantly receiving information about various bands and individuals and when it reaches "critical mass" we try to do a feature. We will keep our eyes open for info on both artists, but it is more likely we will have features on some of the bands of the 70's and 80's first. We depend so much on the contributions of our readers these days so anything is possible! Stay tuned for more.  

Hi there!!
this is a great page lots and lots of information thank God for people like you who never forgot  the showbands and the very happy and safe good old days. .

Thank you forever.
Pamela.

great site,,,,,

Hi there Doney & welcome  :)
If you want to make friends with a load of head-cases..then you've come to the right place  (only joking  ;D ). I joined in January & I've been made so welcome. Hope you enjoy your stay.. :)
Trisha

:) :)Hi Doney,As  Trisha said welcome to this site,it's all thanks to Gerry,so do join in,they are a great bunch,so if you love the showbands like the rest of us do come  on it's great.Best Wishes,Pete. :) :)

Doney, you don't know what you've let yourself in for... :P

Lovely bunch!

I'm sure you will have a few laughs in here
X
Dee

Trisha,Celebrity,and Angelvoice,thank you for making me feel welcome,hope to spend more time on here .Many happy memories of the showband days.

Since the three youngsters have given you such a hearty welcome, I better join them.
We have some heavy discussions here about various weighty topics such as the weather, the price of turnips and so on. We even talk about showband nostalgia at times.
I don't know why Trisha said it was only a joke that we're all mad. Sure that's our common link; Madness------about the Showband Era

Hello..
I love the way Liamo refers to us as youngsters- such a gent.. ;D. Yes, I'd like to say a huge 'Thank You' to Gerry for setting up this site. Not only have I found out so much info about showbands and seen some very familar faces but I've also made friends with a rather 'odd' bunch   ;D  who, as Liamo said we're ALL mad - about Irish Showbands & their music.

:oSpeak for yourselves!

It takes all sorts to make a world.....I'm just Glad I'm not one of them!

::)

Well now. I'd just love to be able to understand that ???

Isn't there a saying 'Music makes the world go round' or is that love? Well anyway, The world would be a dull old place without both.  ;).

I think its 'Money makes the world go around'

or is that just a song from 'Cabaret'?

;D

I've just remembered...the saying (or quote) goes - 'If music be the food of love, play on' ( William Shakespeare).
I knew there was music & love somewhere.... :)

:PAh yes, but can you name the Organ Grinder?

x ???

:) :) :) :) :) :)hI  everyone,no  Dee I can't name the organgrinder,maybe he was in an irish showband! Love the crac just like being in an irish pub with friends,you're a great crowd,liamo,trisha,as well as the lovely Dee.Love chatting to you all.Bye  Best Wishes,Petexx :o :o :o :o

Hiya all... :D
I may agree with Pete when he says that the organ grinder could have been in a showband, we may never know. I have heard of one organ grinder. It's in a song by American artist Prince, titled 'Violet the Organ Grinder'. Don't know what that's got to do with Irish showbands though ???
P.S. Does anyone know if any bands had an organ grinder or a monkey in their band as a gimmick?  8)

Suppose some people would say there were a few monkeys in the Showbands, but who gives a monkey's

Hi Trisha,

The Monkeys dressed like monkeys!

Hi Gerry
Thanks for that. Will look up photo in the vast collection
on site  :)

Monkey Suits? ;D

:) :) :)Isn't that what made the showbands unique?The Indians looked and still looked the part,Magic of course had his powerpack,his brother Willie Walsh once dressed up as Lena Zaborone during a gig at the Noggin Inn in Sallynoggin and the Las Vegas type presentation of the Royal and the Big 8,now thats entertainment! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Monkey nuts perhaps? ;D. Now then, stop monkeying about  :P. You'll be telling me next that there was a singer called 'Tarzan'!

You mean the lead singer with the Apes ::)

Come now...are you having me on :o? It wasn't only the Indians that dressed up. Many fans did too (I was one of them). Imagine the sight...lots of squaws queuing up outside the toilets...terrible if it was in a marquee and raining.. :-[

Oh My Word!!!
The Noggin Inn  ....That's the last place my dead parents saw me sing..awwwwww!
Thanks to Celebrity for the constant flow of overwhelming compliments. You're a reall sweet guy.

Tell the truth though...Avid Merrion has been missing awhile.....anything you want to tell us?
XXX
Hi Trisha...how's you?

NOW i HAVE TO GO TO CAPS AS WE HAVE BEEN GRACED BY THE PRESENCE OF THE ONE AND ONLY ADMINISTRATOR....THE AMAZING GERRY!

So good to see you are looking in Gerry...I'm away upstairs to get some old p[ics to let you air if you have the inclination. Where do I send them?

I notice a woman in the guestbook sign-in wanted a copy of 'You are no angel' which I did the solo in the middle on. If anyone has a copy of the Shaun O'Dowd single I would love to have a copy
XX

Hello,
Where's The Noggin Inn?

Sallynoggin...Dublin!!!!

:)Dear Dee,I have the version of You Are No Angel,by the Cotton Mill Boys, there used to be some great venues in Dublin,got drenched  with rain,waiting to see Nevada at the Drake Inn at Finglas one saturday night and loved the hitching post too  Best Wishes,Petexx :D :D :D

Would love to hear the Cotton Mills Boys version...wow...so many people recorded that one song!!!!!!

What about the gilrlie bit....any godd?...all intact???

Cheers
Dee
xx

Hello:
        Could someone start a forum on musicians who didn't enjoy working with other musicians?.Let off steam....so to speak?.

How're Ya? ;D Only in the door and you want to start a row ;D

Interesting topic...but would it be treading on delicate territory?

Ooohhhhh don't start me off!

Hi
Just found you site this evening. What a great site. I danced my feet off all during the 70's to all the big showbands touring here in England and on holidays to Ireland and then was lucky enough to make my dream come true and be a member of a band in the 80's in Ireland!
Thanks for a great place to rekindle all those happy memories
D