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Name:  Vincent Donegan
Email: v.donegan@talk21.com
Date:  21 Jun 2006

Comments: i have just stumbled accross the site. Never thought I'd see my name on the world wide web! Great stuff.... It's brought a lot of memories flooding back, Thanks so much. Vincey Donegan, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.

Name:  Dave O'Connor
Email: daveoconnor1948@fsmail.net
Date:  20 Jun 2006

Comments: Great site, though regarding Club Caroline in Glasthule, Dun Laoghaire it was a spacefic "Beat Club" and showbands never appeared there. It was groups like THE Chosen Few, Skid Row, Black Eagles (later became Thin Lizzy), Bluesville, Rootzgroup and many others including Eric Burden and the Animals from the House of the Rising Sun fame. I spent many a happy time there between 1965-67 before I moved to England. It was originally a cinema and indeed became a cinema after the clergy and police managed to close it down just like they did in those days. Tis no wonder that we left. The nearby Top Hat was the well known Ballroom owned by the DeFelice family in Monkstown

Name:  Alan Lawson
Email: alan@birdfilm.com
Date:  17 Jun 2006

Comments: Great to read about the bands of my youth... I was spending July/August every year in Achill at that time. It was a sudden wave of nostalgia that I thought about Reform... would always do whatever to see them at the Bunacurry or Wavecrest...

Name:  adrian vare
Email: adrianvare@btinternet.com
Date:  16 Jun 2006

Comments: What happened to Patricia O'Kelly from the Hilton Showband?

Answer: Thanks for the message, your best bet to get answers to questions like this is on our free Forums.

Name:  Paul Smirnoff
Email: widp@repair-auto.info
Date:  16 Jun 2006

Comments: I love this site, there is so much information to be found. Thank you.

Name:  Maire Hayes
Email: mairechayes@yahoo.com
Date:  12 Jun 2006

Comments: I came across this site when I put in a search engine to find Cathal Dunne's email address. His mother has just died and I wanted to email him. What a wonderful site. I live in the US so i was thrilled to see updates of everyone. My Dad managed the Arcadia Ballroom in Cork when I was young and I have autographs of a lot of the older bands. At 83 he must be hte oldest MC in Ireland and still running Ceili's in Cork. When I left school I became involved with a group in Cork called the Montfort Singers and we did shows with everyone who sang in the Eurovision song contest. I also was one of the judges for the National Song contest twice. I have  lived in the US for the past 15yrs and we have brought Cathal Dunne and Tony Kenny here to perform. I go to Branson a lot and see Daniel O'Donnell and Mary Duff there every year. I'll be checking this site a lot. Congrats 

Answer: Thanks Maire for the kind words and our condolences to Cathal on his Mother's passing. We'd love to learn more about your Dad and the Arcadia, home of the Dixies.

Name:  Paul Mc Carthy
Email: paulmccarthy2@bigpond.com.au
Date:  11 Jun 2006

Comments: I first saw The Jim Tyrell Trio when I worked as a young 16 year old bar man in Griffins Tullow Co. Carlow in 1981. They certainly  lit the flames of passion for music in me. They had so much energy and always made the house rock. People travelled from far and wide to see them and often had to que up to get in. If you did'nt get there early to get a seat you had to put up with the pushing and shoving as people made ther way from the bar to the toilets and you often lost your place.Such was the popularity of the lads that  they played once a month and always to a packed house.I would love to get my hands on one of the live recordings of the lads as I know the drummer George Byrne seemed to always record the gigs so as to have a critical listen to afterwards. I know they also played residency in The Meeting of The Waters in Coolgrainy. A Class Act. What a Great idea this site it's wonderful to see  an archive of all the great talent that was around then and I hope will never be forgotten.

Name:  John F Naughton
Email: johnfn@supanet.com
Date:  05 Jun 2006

Comments: My wife and I love listening to Van Morrison and on occasions she allows me to listen to my favourites, The Pogues (I saw them recently at Men Arena). Anyway, I was telling my wife how similar some of Van's music was to the old showbands, I had personal knowledge of the Johnny Flynn Showband from Tuam (my home town). The drummer, Frankie Hannon was a neighbour of mine in the "demesne cottages" and my favourite first cousin Billy Kelly (RIP) played trumpet among other things in the band. Also I went to school with Eamon Ryan (RIP-another Tuam band member). I didn't like him as he tried very hard to stop me seeing his sister who I was madly in love with. My wife has just gone to night shift, I can't wait to show her what I have found on you wonderful site. Cheers.

Name:  Donal Cronin
Email: dougiecronin@eircom.net
Date:  05 Jun 2006

Comments: Thank you for a first class site it brings back very happy memories and i suppose we did not realise at the time how good most of the artists where. I myself enjoy a radio show on hospital radio in Cork University Hospital co-hosting the show with Pat Lynch formerly of the Airchords and each tuesday night i enjoy listing and talking to Pat about the good old days. Donal Cronin (Cork).

Name:  Helen Kiely-Leonard
Email: Helenarizona@eircom.net
Date:  04 Jun 2006

Comments: I am a first cousin of Brian Coll's.    I think that this website is great.   Keep up the good work

Name:  John Cunneen
Email: john@coinin.demon.co.uk
Date:  04 Jun 2006

Comments: Having worked for and with many of the bands featured it is nice to read what is also part of my past and history. keep up the good work.

Name:  bernie kirwan
Email: sherwinkirwan@eircom.net
Date:  31 May 2006

Comments: Hi....I absolutely love Sandy Kelly's recording of "woodcarver" with Johnny Cash and would love a copy but can't seem to get it . Can you tell me where i can get it or if you can send it to me i will pay the cost? Bernie Kirwan

Answer: Hi Bernie, thanks for stopping by the site, you may be able to find a copy by using our free forums. Good luck!

Name:  Joe o'Leary
Email: olearyproperties@eircom.net
Date:  29 May 2006

Comments: I have attended an awful lot of Joe's shows.From the old distillery to silversprings on a sunday morning to crosshaven to flaherty's to the dog track and a lot of other venues over the years.Joe is a fantastic professional and down to earth at the same time.He often called me up to give a song and by god you would get a bit of his witt.I hope Joe will keep playing for another 50yrs as he has a lot more to give. well done Joe

Name:  aiden mulvaney
Email: aidenmulvaney@hotmail.com
Date:  29 May 2006

Comments: very good site

Name:  Mary C Dean
Email: mary.rachel1@googlemail.com
Date:  27 May 2006

Comments: in 1964 the Witnesses played at a small dance hall in Ballyhaunis I was on holiday visiting relatives at the time. A big group of us were at the dance and they ( the Witnesses ) were brilliant. I make this comment because I have spent most of my life in Birmingham and in the 60's you could not have found many places to beat it.

Name:  Margaret
Email: maggiemcc@talk21.com
Date:  25 May 2006

Comments: Just found your website and it is brilliant. Brings back some wonderful memories.  The Starlight and Romanos Ballroom in Belfast. Especially love the Brian Coll site.  Nice to see some of the old faces.  Good for reminiscing. 

Name:  brendan quinn
Email: bquinn566@btinternet.com
Date:  25 May 2006

Comments: Hi there, I'm still in the business, playing guitar with my son James in his country band. I also have another son Stephen who plays drums and a bass player called Noel Mc Keary and Cloudy Heny on piano. We play all over Ireland and UK....BRENDAN QUINN

Name:  Liam Moore
Email: polly1518@hotmail.com
Date:  24 May 2006

Comments: I have some more info about the plattermen if you let me know where to send it.I enjoyed seeing those old fotos again after so many years.

Answer: Hi Liam, we have sent you an email with instructions...thanks for the offer.

Name:  Anna O'Hanlon
Email: anna_ohanlon@hotmail.com
Date:  23 May 2006

Comments: Fantastic website, and so many are still going strong Mary Darcy ex Twos Company, Brendan Shine, Tony Stevens , Phyl Begley, Larry Cunningham.  Brought back so many Happy Memories of when I first starting dancing 40 years ago in the Galtymore  

Name:  gerry langley
Email: gerrylangley@hotmail.com
Date:  22 May 2006

Comments: Hi, my name is Gerry Langley i am a singer songwriter living and working in london,i have just been looking at the photo of the matadors showband it brought back a lot of memories i was a member of the band  in their early years when a guy called Tommy Jones used to manage the band, we had great times. I don't know how many original members are left but I still talk to Johnny Morgan who was the lead guitar player.

Name:  essie scott
Email: essiescott@guernsey.net
Date:  22 May 2006

Comments: love the site didn't realise how many showbands there were in Ireland! 

Name:  robin irvine
Email: robin@irvinemail.com
Date:  21 May 2006

Comments: Hi there.  A great site which brings back fond memories from the 60's & 70's.  I love the 'where are they now?' feature.  Amazing!  Robin Irvine, Chips - Bass & Vocals - 1968 - 1973

Name:  Greg Phillips
Email: gprouskey@msn.com
Date:  21 May 2006

Comments: Have only recently found this site and still finding my way  but so far very impressed. Originally joined to find out about Gregory Donaghy who I used to go to school with.

Answer: Hi Greg, thanks for stopping by, glad you could catch up with an old school mate!

Name:  Cathal
Email: rego1234@hotmail.co.uk
Date:  19 May 2006

Comments: Bagatelle r legends!

Name:  Roisin Colgan
Email: rashfromradders@yahoo.co.uk
Date:  19 May 2006

Comments: Brill site x

Name:  Tina Seeley
Email: jtseeley@cableone.net
Date:  17 May 2006

Comments: I am looking for more info on Dennis Osborne.  If you're out there please shoot us an email!  Very important.

Name:  Anita Cronin
Email: acook1123@yahoo.com
Date:  17 May 2006

Comments: My mother in law is Anita Cronin of the Johnny McMahon Orchestra. She was excited to see her picture on the internet. She played piano, bass guitar and sang during her career. Thanks for paying tribute to these bands.

Name:  michael lyons
Email: mj_lyons@yahoo.com
Date:  15 May 2006

Comments: Hi again from Sydney. I spoke to Johnny Carroll recently when he was visiting Australia. It is always great to go back in time with the lads who gave us so much in the 60'tees. Shay O'Hara ( royal blues) and Myles Mooney(Airchords) are going well here in Sydney. Great site keep it going! Michael Lyons

Name:  Alice Molloy
Email: almol@iolfree.ie
Date:  14 May 2006

Comments: A wonderful site brings back a lot of great memories , would love to have heard some audio clips . I wish you every success with the site it is in my favourites so i will be popping in and out.

Answer: Hi Alice. Thanks for stopping by, we're not sure why you couldn't hear audio clips, there are plenty on the site, check under "Audio Clips" and "Eurovision."

Name:  Auriel McGilly
Email: auriel.lunn@covance.com
Date:  14 May 2006

Comments: Brilliant website - does anyone know Ignatius who was in a showband in 1964 who I went with for a while, well you never know someone might recall! That's how it was in those days!!  Any more memories anyone?

Name:  joan
Email: joaniecurtin@eircom.net
Date:  14 May 2006

Comments: Great to see Brendan Bowyer performing in Ireland and in particular in the Waterford/Cork area, he is better than ever - what a singer, and a great personality as well. Looking forward to more of him.

Name:  Patsy Mc Auley
Email: pmcauley@btinternet.com
Date:  12 May 2006

Comments: I agree with Martin Henry. The Johnny Quigley band were the best I ever heard, before or since. They would blow any of the modern outfits off the stage. No offence intended !.

Name:  martin henry
Email: ahenryandsons@hotmail.com
Date:  10 May 2006

Comments: I feel the Johnny Quigley band was Ireland's best band but 40 years too soon. They were Ireland's James Last and in my opinion no band came near. Martin Henry at Magherafelt.

Name:  Jean and Maureen
Email: Thomjeandavis@aol.com
Date:  08 May 2006

Comments: Any information about Brendan Shine would be much appreciated. All the latest news....Thanks XX

Answer: Hi Jean and Maureen. Your best bet to get info on the stars today is to join our free forums and post a request for info there! Thanks for stopping by.

Name:  michael morgan
Email: michaelmorgan2000@hotmail.com
Date:  06 May 2006

Comments: any news about don murray and other members of the gaylords welcome

Answer: Hi Michael, you're best bet is to post a request on our free forums! Good luck!

Name:  Elaine Allen
Email: elaine.allan3@ntlworld.com
Date:  04 May 2006

Comments: Mike Niblett. I've emailed you privately

Name:  Glen Brown
Email: laharna60s@yahoo.com
Date:  04 May 2006

Comments: Enjoyed another browse of this informative web site. Joe Gillespie (The Chord-en-aires, Larne) and I have been exchanging emails recently. I have submitted a colour photo of the band and it's line-up in the 60s that Joe was kind enough to send me. Joe's brother Stewart was a member of High Seas Showband - Larne. A wee bird told me that Jim Hill (ex High Seas Showband) is visiting Larne during 2006 from Australia, with his new bride. TO GERRY AND TEAM wishing you continuing success with this marvellous site. Yours in Friendship, Glen Brown,  EDINBURGH

Name:  Paul O'Driscoll
Email: paul@tippfellowship.org
Date:  04 May 2006

Comments: This is a very interesting site. Well done!. I was never really into Showbands. More - the early U2 generation. I found this site while researching a post for my own blog. It's not really a music blog but being a music fan, music comes into it. Here is a post that some might be interested in. It's me reflecting on the Cork scene circa 1979-1980. I'd be interested if anyone else had any memories. Although I wasn't into showbands, this site brings back many memories. I was more into pop/rock and I used to get annoyed when Irish radio pushed the showbands so much in the 1970s but looking at this site brings back so many childhood memories. I even found a reference to Tweed - I think that they were about the first group to play in Downtown Kampus (Arcadia)  in Cork in November 1977. As a child, my parents once brought me home a sticker from the Majorca in Cork - which read "Baby I'm your man". I think that it may have been from the Miami.

Name:  joe french
Email: frenchjp2005@yahoo.co.uk
Date:  04 May 2006

Comments: heard brendan singing Waterford The City of MY dreams ,a beautiful song brilliantly sung .He is singing better than ever.

Name:  Pat Swanson
Email: ps3991@aol.com
Date:  01 May 2006

Comments: I knew Maurice and the band including Michael and Marlene. Also when Gloria played with them. Many a good night I spent with them. Both at the dances and after them. Brilliant band! Brilliant people

Name:  Sean Devlin
Email: valdevlin@optusnet.com.au
Date:  01 May 2006

Comments: I played with Frankie & the Echoes, the idom, Seasons and the Green Angels and would like to hear from anyone who played in the same bands.

Answer: Hi Sean, your best bet is to join the free forums!

Name:  Richard O Donoghue
Email: richdon49@iol.ie
Date:  01 May 2006

Comments: Hi There, Is it possable to contact Tommy Drennan of the Freshmen. I want to ask him a question about the Bee Gee rare song ONE BAD THING they released in 71. I have a 45 RPM of this single but in poor condition. Regards, Richard

Answer: Hi Richard, your best bet is to post a request on our free forums! Good luck and thanks for stopping by.

Name: Caroline
Email: csuzywill@hotmail.com
Date:  28 Apr 2006

Comments: Went to see The Indians playing last night in Kirkwall and thought they were absolutely brilliant, would love to go and see them again!!!!

Name:  ekeson guyman
Email: ekesonguyman@yahoo.com
Date:  19 Apr 2006

Comments: NICE SITE KEEP IT UP OK

Name:  Lynn
Email: Celticroots2@Yahoo.com
Date:  19 Apr 2006

Comments: WOW!!!! What a trip down memory lane this was.  Brought back memories of The Blue Glows and Big Tom and a black eye lol.  Teach me to do the swing  :). Makes me realise just how old I am getting.  Had the opportunity to go to Letterkenny but I got engaged instead......should have gone to Ireland  :)    Great site. Keep up the good work.

Name: Mary Murray (nee Martin)
Email: weeshie@fish.co.uk
Date:  16 Apr 2006

Comments: What a joy to find this site. I grew up in Ireland in the showband era and have happy memories of many a night spent dancing to them. God be with the days!!

Name:  edward jeffares
Email: curragh63@yahoo.co.uk
Date:  14 Apr 2006

Comments: Hi. What a lovely site...brings back memories to me of the good old days in the 60s. The best years!
From Eddie Jeffares

Name:  Beezer
Email: cottrell400@aol.com
Date:  14 Apr 2006

Comments: What a fascinating site. The guitarist in the Horslips picture was Guy or Gus Guest? He replaced Declan Sinnot in the early seventies. Does any one know what happened to Lola [Anne Mooney] who sang with the Gypsies and Glen Curtain. Last I heard she was in Las Vegas? Keep up the good work.  Beezer.

Answer: Hi Beezer and thanks for stopping by. The unknown member or Horslips was credited as Gus Guest, but we think that was a pseudonym, he could only been with them a short time as Johnny Fean was Declan's replacement. As for Anne, she is indeed in Vegas after emigrating to the States with The Big Eight in 1976. She performed until 2005 and now works in a medical practice out there.

Name:  Mike Stevenson
Email: StvnsnM4@aol.com
Date:  13 Apr 2006

Comments: Brilliant website, it brings back many memories of the 60's and the great nights listening to the showbands. Does anyone know what happened to the Cadets?

Answer: Hi Mike, the Cadets broke up in the early 70's with Jimmy Day and Eileen Reid going their own way in cabaret. Gregory Donaghy emigrated to Canada and joined the Carlton Showband, which he left in 1996 but he still performs around Newfoundland. Today, Eileen and Jimmy still play with their band, Bees Knees.  

Name:  Paul Murphy
Email: murphy772@eircom.net
Date:  13 Apr 2006

Comments: Great historical info and a great site !!

Name: Ken Condon
Email: kennyboy@unwired.com.au
Date:  12 Apr 2006

Comments: Ah yes, I remember them well. Living in Australia all these years hasn't dampened my memory...all remembered fondly!

Name:  Roberta  Mitchell
Email: roberta8@rogers.com
Date:  12 Apr 2006

Comments: I enjoyed looking through the web site very much . It was like turning back the years. I worked with someone who played with the STRAND SHOWBAND and I was a big follower of THE MYSTICS perhaps you could add their photos to the site , that's if there are any available. Thanks for the memories

Answer: Hi Roberta. Thanks for stopping by the site. We would love to feature the bands, but need their photos to be contributed by one of our supporters. Keep checking back though, as the collection is growing daily!

Name:  George Crymble
Email: crymble@aol.com
Date:  11 Apr 2006

Comments: Hello, I've just been surfing on the internet and found my name on your page. Very interesting! I'm living now in North Germany and still playing "Rock and Roll"and would like to try and get some information from my old "Stratatones" members ( if they are still alive ). Keep this page alive. Best Regards, George Crymble

Answer: Hi George, your best bet is to join the free forum and post under "Musician's Wanted!" Thanks for stopping by!

Name:  Angela H.
Email: aherrera@dysart.org
Date:  10 Apr 2006

Comments: Whatever happened to Murty Quinn?

Answer: Murty is still in Ireland, but we're not what he is up to these days since he tragically lost his son several years ago. The Forums may be your best bet for more info. 

Name:  hc
Email: blondeh@ntlworld.com
Date:  07 Apr 2006

Comments: i would like to know was there a member in the black and white Dixie Minstels named Richard Ashe. If you know please get back to me at blondeh@ntlworld.com.

Answer: Your best bet is to try our free forums under "Musician's Wanted."

Name:  Paul Donnelly
Email: pauldonnelly05@eircom.net
Date:  07 Apr 2006

Comments: Just got you web.  My god it was like look into a time tunnel. I grew up with most of all the 45's you have on file. But nothing would stop til I collected the showband 45's fron the sixties. I dont see them now at all. Hard to get but very rewarding. I have an old valve amp to re create that old round sound. Well full marks for the site. I could chat here all night. As I sign of I have Butch playing in the back ground on the Ami Juke Box 1964 Ex Mollocca's Resturant Park Street Dundalk. All The Best. Paul

Name:  Mike Niblett.
Email: mchlniblett@aol.com
Date:  06 Apr 2006

Comments: Hi Elaine, I used to play bass with your dad in the "High  Seas." Whereabouts are you all now? If still in Ireland, Mike Niblett.

Name:  Elaine Allen
Email: elaine.allan3@ntlworld.com
Date:  06 Apr 2006

Comments: Just been looking through your site and im proud and pleased to see my Father Meyv Allen along with the Jimmy Johnston showband. He was the lead guitarist and singer in the band. I will be forwarding some more photos of the band. Hope you can add these to your collection. Elaine.

Answer: Hi Elaine, thanks for stopping by, we would love to add your photos to the collection.

Name:  Geraldine Dunne
Email: uischebatha@hotmail.com
Date:  03 Apr 2006

Comments: Great to view this site. My Dad, Sonny Knowles is here on holiday with me at the moment in Perth Western Australia. We went to Rosie O'Grady's Pub in Fremantle yesterday Sunday 2nd April 2006 and Dad got to meet a few faces from home. He sang a few songs and the crowd loved it. He's had a great holiday. We've spent the time talking about the old band day's with lots of popular names cropping up. Great to see your web site. Regards Geraldine Dunne

Answer: Thanks Geraldine, we'd love to hear more about your Dad and what he is up to. Please drop us a line here.

Name:  Sean T Traynor
Email: seanttraynor@aol.com
Date:  31 Mar 2006

Comments: Great to see this site and the work that has gone into it being shared on the net. Brought many happy memories of The Shamrock in Brum with Big Tom, Phil Begley, Brian Coll and Joe Dolan back to me. Bring back the Dance Halls. I would love to see a What they're up to now. section. Good lick and Thank You.
Sean T Traynor

Answer: Thanks for stopping by Sean, you must have missed our Where Are They Now section. We're also adding the same to every new band feature as fast as we can....

Name:  Angela Mc Crudden
Email: angela.mccrudden@yellgroup.com
Date:  31 Mar 2006

Comments: My dad, Gerry McCrudden, one of the founder members of The Grenadiers, passed away on 17 February 2006. Contrary to popular belief, lead vocals Harry Birch, sadly deceased, was give the name 'Bo' by Gerry. In the early days, Gerry wrote press releases announcing the bands gigs, and sent them into the papers with photos of the band. After discussion with Harry he thought he needed a catchy name, and came up with 'Bo' which stuck!  Up until his death, he was still playing in clubs in Belfast on keyboard, indeed he was playing three days before he died. He often recalled the pranks him and the other bands would play on each other when touring Ireland, switching road signs in rural Donegal was a favourite! He also told us of a young upstart playing with them one time, who he thought was all noise and told him so. Turned out to be Van Morrison. Tommy Morris, Jim Mc Glinchey and Austin Devlin stayed in touch and we had regular parties at our home. Gerry was, up until his death, still threatening to teach Tommy keyboards. He is very sorely missed and the house is very very quiet without him. Irreplaceable.

Answer: Angela, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at Gerry's sad passing. Thank you for letting us know about his death and the joy he brought to so many people. 

Name:  Tony Murphy
Email: tony.murphy@lithostudios.ie
Date:  31 Mar 2006

Comments: Great Site. Well done. My uncle Tony Malone was the guitarist / singer with The Weaver Folk if that's any help.

Answer: Thanks Tony, we will make sure he is in our directory!