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Musicians Directory: In Memory

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It is a sad fact that we are all getting older far too quickly. Since the Showband Era started 45 years ago, many of the musicians who made up it's ranks are advancing in age. We take this opportunity to pay tribute to the many stars on whom the curtain has come down all too soon.  

If you would like pay tribute to someone by adding them to this list, click here to let us know. If the last name is highlighted, click on it for more info! We are trying to get photos of all musicians here. Please let us know if you have one, we especially would like photos from the showband era.

Photo Last, First Home Town Instrument(s) Bands
Ainscough,
Peter*		 Clondalkin,
Co. Dublin		 Drums Express Showband, Louis Stewart Trio
(passed away October 23, 2004)
Aylward,
Jim		 Carrick On Suir,
Co. Tipperary		   Cowboys Showband
(Jim sadly passed away March 6, 1991)
Barrett,
Noel		 Ballina,
Co. Mayo		 Guitar Abilene Showband, Fairways
(Noel sadly passed away)
Barton,
Johnny		 Drogheda,
Co. Louth		 Drums Dermot O'Brien's Clubmen, Tigermen
(Johnny sadly passed away Apr 5, 2007 - Liam Reilly)
Johnny started his career with the Flying Carlton in Drogheda , joining Dermot O'Brien's Clubmen in 1963. The band and Dermot parted company for a few years with Johnny , Eamonn Campbell , Timmy Regan and Willie Healy forming the Tigermen. They rejoined Dermot a couple of years later and Johnny and the late Derek McCormack remained with Dermot as the Dermot O'Brien Trio until Dermot moved to the USA - Liam Reilly
Bates,
Syd		     Syd Bates Orchestra
(Syd sadly passed away in early March, 2008 - from his son,
Jim. )
Syd emigrated to New Zealand in 1985, but returned to Ireland in
2007 at the age of 84
Berkenheier,
Ernie		 Rathfarnham,
Co. Dublin		 Bass Pat Lynch and the Airchords
(Ernie sadly passed away in July, 2004)
Birch,
Bo*		 Belfast,
Co. Antrim		 Vocals Grenadiers Showband
(Bo's daughter Jacqueline recently wrote us to let us know that
Bo sadly passed away on November 5th, 1996)
Bogle,
Martin		   Manager Memories
(sadly passed away in August 1995 - Ken Bogle)
Bourke,
Jeff		 Urlingford,
Co. Tipperary		 Drums Tweed, Kenny Ryder Band
(Jeff sadly passed away in Nov., 2006)
 
Brennan,
Frankie		 Tubbercurry,
Co. Sligo		 Guitar Clefonaires Showband, Montrose
(Frankie sadly passed away in Oct., 2003)
He was a guitar player and singer with the Clefonaires Showband
for some years and later joined the Montrose
Showband that featured in the Showband Show on RTE
Brown,
Billy		 Ballymena,
Co. Antrim		 Keyboards Billy McFarland, Freshmen, Brown & O'Brien, Billy Brown Band
(passed away in 1999)
Billy was one of the true pioneers of pop music in Ireland, guiding
the Freshmen in the late 60's when Irish pop was still very much
a part of the showband scene in the ballrooms and dancehalls.
Their album, Peace On Earth, still stands as one of the best Irish
pop records ever made. Billy went on to become one of Ireland's
top song writers and record producers before his untimely
death.
Browne,
James		 Kiltimagh,
Co. Mayo		   Pete Browne's Band of Renown, Sundowners
(passed away in 2002)
Browne,
Pete		 Kiltimagh,
Co. Mayo		   Pete Browne's Band of Renown, Sundowners
(passed away on November 15, 2001)
Bryan,
Mike		   Guitar Classic Showband, Agents Showband, Fairways
(Mike sadly passed way April 25, 1970)
Burns,
Billy		 Belfast,
Co. Antrim		 Guitar Teddie Palmer Trend, Teddie Palmer & The Rumble Band,
Confederates
(emigrated to Canada with Muriel Day, but returned and sadly
passed away a few years later).
Cahill,
Joe		   Manager Paragon Seven Showband
(sadly passed away in 2000)
Cahill,
Micky		 Waterford,
Co. Waterford		 Drums Derek Joys Showband
(passed away March 16, 2002)
Cahill,
Theo		 Cork,
Co. Cork		 Sax/Clarinet Dixielanders, Dixies Showband
(passed away July 24, 1988)
Theo, a founding member of the Dixies, who formed the band
with Joe McCarthy and Sean Lucey in 1954 was with the band
through its entire career. He tragically passed away after
collapsing during a gig in Achill, Co. Mayo.
Callaghan,
Colm*		   Drums Marines Showband
(Colm sadly passed away)
Campbell,
Eddie*		   Guitar/Vocals Federals, Stellas, Greenbeats, Real McCoy
(passed away in the 70's in Canada)
Campbell,
Joe*		 Belfast,
Antrim		 Trumpet/Drums Presidents Showband, College Boys
(Joe sadly passed away in 1990 - oiur thanks to his daughter Ciara
 for the information)
Campbell,
Pat*		     Pat Campbell Showband, Manager - Dawn Knight & the Casuals
(Pat sadly passed away in late April, 2006)
Canning,
Aidan
Co. Mayo		 Trombone Savoy Swing Seven, Jack Ruane Showband
(passed away June 26, 1992)
Cantillan,
Joe		 Limerick
Co. Limerick		 Sax Berwyn Showband
(Brendan O'Loughlin wrote and told us Joe sadly passed away on
June 4, 2007)

Carroll,
Doc		 Ballinrobe,
Co. Mayo		 Vocals Band of Renown, Royal Blues
(Doc sadly passed away on May 1, 2005 at the age of 64)
Born in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, Doc came to prominence in Pete
Brown's Band of Renown and later with the Royal Blues.
Doc was still performing when he fell ill early in 2005. He died
on Sunday, May 1 and was buried in Athlone, where he lived at
the time of his death.
Carson,
Billy*		   Bass Swingtime Aces, Gerry & The Ohio
(sadly passed away Sept, 2002)
Carwood,
Mick		   Keyboards The Others
(Mick passed away in 2002)
Casey,
Johnny		   Keyboards Mick Fogarty Showband
(Johnny sadly passed away - John Fennessy)
Chambers,
Tony		 Newport,
Co. Mayo		 Sax/band
leader		 Tony Chambers Orchestra
(Tony sadly passed away)

Clarke,
Joe*		   Drums Witnesses Showband, Dave Glover Band
(Joe emigrated to Canada where he sadly passed
away in February, 2003 - Mike Arkins)
Cleary,
Jimmy		 Inchicore,
Co. Dublin		 Vocals Blue Clavons, Melochords
(Jimmy's son Mark wrote us to say his Father sadly passed away
on September 28th, 2007 at the age of 72)
Cleary,
Johnny		 Rhonda Valley,
Wales		 Guitar Jack Ruane Showband
(Noel O'Neill wrote to tell us Johnny sadly passed away)
Close,
Dick		   Bass Cossacks Showband Founder
(sadly passed away in 1998)
Cole,
Phil		 Dublin,
Co. Dublin		 Sax Crickets Showband
(Thomas Harrington wrote to tell us that Phil sadly passed away
a few years ago and we thank Thomas for the photo)
Coll,
Christy*		 Mullingar,
Co. Westmeath		 Guitar Classic Showband
(Patrick Hoye wrote to tell us that Christy sadly passed away in early April, 2006)
Colley,
Harry*		 Dublin,
Co. Dublin		 Guitar Farmer's Sons
(sadly passed away)
Collins,
Donie		 Askeaton,
Co. Limerick		 Clarinet/Trmpt Donie Collins Band
(Donie sadly passed away in 1987)
Condon,
Tony*		 Waterford Trumpet Blue Aces Showband
(Tony sadly passed away)
Connolly,
St John		 Clontarf,
Co. Dublin		 Guitar Greenbeats, Aesop's Fables, Colm Wilkinson Band
(St John sadly passed away in Jan, 2007 - Marie Moore)
Conway,
Billy*		 Limerick,
Co. Limerick		 Sax/
Keyboards/
Clarinet		 Ascot Showband (our thanks to Billy's son, Brendan)
 Billy Conway Band
(Billy sadly passed away in April, 2002) 
Conway,
Mickey		 Magherafelt,
Co. Derry		 Sax Green Angels Showband
(Mickey sadly passed away November 17, 2006)
 
Costello,
Philomena		 Tuam,
Co. Galway		 Vocals Johnny Flynn Dance Band,
(Phil sadly passed away, she wqas the wife of sax player Johnny
Costello) 
Coughlan,
Frank*		 Limerick,
Co. Limerick		 Guitar Berwyn Showband, Heuston Wells & Trident, Gerry & The Ohio
 (Frank sadly passed away) 
Coughlan,
Pat*		 Cork,
Co. Cork		 Manager Manager - Hilton Club in Cork
(Pat sadly passed away in October, 2002 - from his daughter,
Tracy Holland)
Coyle,
David*		   Vocals Melody Aces Showband
(passed away November 17, 1983)
Creagh,
Seamus		   Trombone Crescent Showband, Coasters Showband, Barristers Showband,
Bankers Showband
(passed away suddenly July 11, 2003 - John Baird)
Crean,
Johnny		 Ballina,
Co. Mayo