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
	Neenan, Tony	Cork, Co. Cork	Trumpet	Arrivals Showband (Tony sadly passed away)
	Neville, Larry	Cork, Co. Cork	Trumpet	Dixielanders Showband, Michael O'Callaghan Showband (Larry sadly passed away on March 11, 2006- from Sarah Murray)
	Newman, Tony	Mullingar, Co. Westmeath	Drums	Arkansas Travellers, Haggards, The Drifters (passed away in 2000)
	Nolan, Mike	Dundalk, Co. Louth	Trumpet	Billy Brown Band, Stage 2, Pacific Showband, Clubmen (passed away January 9, 2005) Although Mike was with several showbands, he was best known for his work in Jazz with artists like Louis Stewart, Keith Donald, Dessie Reynolds, Johnny Wadham and others. In his latter years he wrote commercial jingles as well as continuing to perform in Jazz clubs around Ireland.
	Noone, Patrick J.*	Roscommon, Co. Roscommon	Trumpet	Tara Showband (Patrick emigrated to Canada in the mid 1960's with the Tara Showband and passed away on February 12, 2007. From Chris Noone, his son.)
	Norris, Leslie*		Drums	Silver Clouds (Leslie died suddenly at the age of only 57 on Feb. 15, 2006 our thanks to Alan Carr for the notice)
	O'Brien, Brendan	Cork, Co. Cork	Vocals	Dixielanders, Dixies Showband, Stage Two (Brendan sadly passed away on April 3, 2008-age 67) Brendan was one of the legends of the showband era with the Dixies. They scored their greatest success with the single Little Arrows which was number one on the Irish Charts. Brendan nearly died after being electrocuted on stage in 1974 and although plagued with health problems since, he continued to perform up until the time of his death. See his story here.
	O'Brien, Dermot	Ardee, Co. Louth	Accordion & Vocals	Clubmen Showband, Dermot O'Brien Band (Dermot sadly passed away on May 22, 2007) Dermot came to prominence in Ireland originally as a member of the County Louth GAA team. Together with his accordion he had many~ hits and was on the balltroom scene for many years with his band the Clubmen and then as a solo artist in cabaret. Her emigrated to | the States where he continued to play the clubs up and down the East Coast of the U.S. until the time of his death.
	O'Brien, Noel*	Enniskillen, Co.Fermanagh	Drums	Trenniers Showband (Noel sadly passed away a few years ago)
	O'Callaghan, Bobby	Buttevant, Co. Cork	Vocals	Michael O'Callaghan Band (our thanks to Con Collins for info) (passed away September 21, 1987. Our thanks also to Bonny's daughter Eileen O'Grady for the photo of her father. )
	O'Callaghan, Michael	Buttevant, Co. Cork		Michael O'Callaghan Band (Michael sadly passed away December 7, 2007. Our thanks also to Liam O'Reilly for the info).
	O'Connell, Paddy	Limerick, Co. Limerick	Manager	Shaun O'Dowd & Dingaling, Candi & Dynamite, Kim Newport Band, Tommy Drennan and Top League Two Mile Inn  (Paddy sadly passed away in January 2006)
	O'Connell, Nelius		Manager	Kerry Blues, Jim Farley All Stars, Frankie McBride & The Polka Dots, Maisie McDaniel, Nita Norry, Philomena Begley & The Country Flavour (Nelius sadly passed away August 5, 2006)-his son, Donal.
	O'Connor, Maurice "Mossie"	Newcastle West, Co. Limerick	Drums	Donie Collins Band, Maurice Mulcahy Band (a.k.a. Ronnie Fox) (sadly passed away March 31, 2005)
	O'Domhnaill, Michael		Guitar	Bothy Band  (Michael sadly passed away in July, 2006)
	O'Dowda Donal		Guitar	Dermot O'Brien's Clubmen  (Donal sadly passed away)
	O'Grady, Mick		Bass	Vampires  (Michael sadly passed away on Oct 20, 2007 - Tom Foley)
	O'Hara, Dan*	Blacklion, Co. Cavan	Guitar/Vocals	Philomena Begley's Country Flavour, Ramblin' Men, Dan also fronted the band as Dan O'Hara and the Country Flavour in the mid 70's. (Dan sadly passed away November 13, 2004)
	O'Hagan, Fergus			Clipper Carlton (Fergie sadly passed away February 24, 2007)
	O'Leary, Finbar*	Cork, Co. Cork	Keyboards	Dixielanders, Dixies Showband (Finbar sadly passed away June 12, 2002)
	O'Loughlin, Denis*	Limerick, Co. Limerick	Sax/Clarinet	Pete Roxborough Orchstra, Dermot O'Brien's Clubmen (Denis sadly passed away)
	O'Mahony, Chris*		Bass	Dixielanders, Dixies Showband (passed away July 10, 1990)
	O'Neill, Billy		Guitar	Dermot O'Brien's Clubmen (Billy sadly passed away)
	O'Neill, Brian	Keady, Co. Armagh	Sax/clarinet	Majestic Showband, Canvas Wagon (Brian sadly passed away)
	O'Riordan Enda	Newcastle, Co. Tipperary	Manager	Cowboys (Enda sadly passed away on April 14, 2008)
	O'Rourke, Jack	Mallow, Co. Cork	Manager	Majestic Ballroom, Mallow and Top Hat, Fermoy (Jack sadly passed away on May 1, 2005) Besides being one of the best known ballroom promoters in Ireland, Jack was also the Chairman of the Irish Ballroom Bands Association (IBBA) when it was first formed. We thank his son, Brendan for the info and photos of his father.
	O'Rourke, Padraig*	Dublin, Co. Dublin	Vocals	Clowns (sadly passed away)
	O'Toole, Fran	Bray, Co. Wicklow	Keyboards	Miami Showband (killed by terrorists on July 31, 1975) A very young Fran O'Toole joined the Miami after they split to form the Sands in 1967. When Dickie Rock went solo, Fran stepped out front and instantly became one of Ireland's best loved entertainers. He was also a prolific songwriter and penned several smash hits for the band and others. He was gunned down by terrorists on a country road while they were planting a bomb on the band's van, which went off prematurely.
	Pearse, Danny		Vocals/Guitar	Danny & The Lions, Jim Farley Big Band, Jim Farley Band Show   (passed away March 15, 1969)
	Pigot, Ernie			Odeon Showband   (Ernie sadly passed away)
	Ponsonby, Terry	Letterkenny, Co. Donegal		William Ponsonby Showband (sadly passed away)
	Ponsonby, William	Letterkenny, Co. Donegal	Accordion	William Ponsonby Showband (sadly passed away)
	Prendergast, Frank	Co. Waterford	Trumpet	Bridesiders (Frank's son, Frank wrote us recently and told us that Frank, Snr. sadly passed away in January, 1991)
	Prendergast, Joe	Co. Waterford	Bass	Bridesiders, Victors (Joe's brother, Frank wrote us recently and told us that Joe sadly passed away in September, 2006 aged 60)
	Power, Lenny	Co. Wicklow	Guitar	Smokey Mountain Ramblers (Lenny's daughter, Carol, wrote us recently and told us that Lenny sadly passed away in 1994)
	Purdy, Norman	Larne, Co. Antrim	Vocals	High Seas Showband (sadly passed away)
	Quinn, Ben E.	Portnoo, Co. Donegal	Vocals	Keynotes Showband (Ben sadly passed away - John McGrenra) Ben replaced Margo in the Keynotes Showband in 1972 and release the record "Little Cabin Home On The Hill" before the band called it quits in the mid-seventies.
	Quinn, Clem		Guitar	Miami Showband (Clem sadly passed away)
	Quinn, Hugo		Trumpet	Clipper Carlton Showband (passed away October 26, 1987) Hugo, a founding member of the Clipper Carlton was one of the driving forces behind the band's several comebacks in the late 1960's and again in 1985. So much so, that his death in 1987 resulted in the end of the band forever.
	Reynolds, Gerry*		Vocals	Hi-Lows Showband   (Gerry sadly passed away in July, 2002)
	Reynolds, Paddy	Drogheda, Co. Louth	Sax	Casino Showband (Paddy sadly passed away)
	Ruane, Jack Sr.*	Ballina, Co. Mayo		Jack Ruane Showband   (Jack sadly passed away in May, 1997)
	Ryan, Eamonn*	Tuam, Co. Galway	Guitar	Bandits Showband (no relation to Tommy, Eamon sadly passed away)
	Ryan, Tommy*	Tuam, Co. Galway	Bass	Bandits Showband, Crystal All Stars (Tommy was killed in a car crash)
	Scott, Brian		Drums	Trend,Teddie Palmer's Rumble Band (emigrated to Canada but sadly passed away)
	Scully, Barry	Dublin, Co. Dublin	Bass	Ray Richards Showband, Emile Ford and the Checkmates, Bandleader Resident Band - The Regent Rooms London, The Beat Brothers (Hamburg), Gene and the Gents, Roly and Green County, Spice (resident Donaghmeade Inn Dublin), Dickie Rock Band (Barry Sadly passed away December 10, 2007 age 64)