| On This Day:
Important dates in Irish entertainment history: (Click
here to send us info on any additional dates)
|
January |
3rd, 1964 |
Dickie Rock's first single
with the Miami, "There's Always Me," hit number 1 in Irish
charts** |
| |
4th, 1986 |
Thin Lizzy bass player and
lead singer, Philip Lynott, passed away*** |
| |
8th, 1945 |
Chieftain's bodhran / bones player Kevin Conneff born in
Donore, Co. Dublin.^ |
| |
11th, 1942 |
Muriel Day (real name
Muriel Galway) born in Newtownards, Co. Down. |
| |
12th, 1947 |
Matt Molloy of the
Chieftains born in Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon.^* |
| |
12th, 1948 |
Cahir O'Doherty born in
Ballymena, Co. Antrim |
| |
12th, 1951 |
Steven Travers, bass
player and survivor
of the Miami Showband tragedy born* |
| |
18th, 1965 |
Brendan Bowyer and the
Royal hit Number one in the Irish Charts with "The
Hucklebuck"** |
| |
28th, 1981 |
Daniel O'Donnell makes his
professional debut as part of his sister, Margo's, band* |
| |
30th, 1984 |
Luke Kelly of the
Dubliners sadly passed away* |
|
February |
2nd, 1949 |
Horslips' keyboardist Jim
Lockhart born
in Dublin.^ |
| |
3rd, 1929 |
Singer Val Doonican born
in Waterford* |
| |
3rd, 1932 |
Freshman Maurice Henry born
in Ballymena, Co. Antrim* |
| |
4th, 1949 |
Smokey Mountain Rambler
guitarist Dave Kearney born in Dublin |
| |
5th, 1967 |
Musician's Union bans
Stone's "Let's Spend the Night Together" from Eamonn
Andrews' TV show* |
| |
12th, 1971 |
Singer, Delia Murphy
passed away* |
| |
13th, 1938 |
Country singer, Larry
Cunningham, born in Granard, Co. Longford* |
| |
14th, 1981 |
Stardust nightclub in
Artane, Co. Dublin burned down, killing 48 dancers and
injuring 100* |
| |
18th, 1935 |
Dubliner guitarist/tin whistle/harmonica player Ciaran Burke
born in Dublin, Co Dublin.^ |
| |
21st, 1946 |
Fiddler
George Kaye (real name- Jerzy Krzyzanowski) born
|
| |
28th, 2008 |
Former Olly Maloney Band sax player Cyril Fullard passed
away. |
|
March |
1st, 1949 |
Guitarist Rory Gallagher
born in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal* |
| |
4th, 2008 |
Guitarist Jimmy Faulkner passed away. |
| |
7th, 1922 |
Twin Clancy Brothers Tom and Paddy Clancy born in
Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary.^ |
| |
10th, 1945 |
Donal Lunny of Planxty &
Moving Hearts born* |
| |
13th, 1960 |
Adam Clayton, bassist with
U2, born* |
| |
17th, 1944 |
Pat McCauley, drummer for
Van Morrison's group Them, born* |
| |
17th, 1948 |
Fran Byrne of the Sands
born in Dublin |
| |
17th, 1951 |
Scott Gorham, guitarist
with Thin Lizzy, born* |
| |
17th, 1971 |
Big Country, led by the
late Des Wilson debuted in the Sports Centre, Cavan. |
| |
20th, 1965 |
Butch Moore of the Capitol
Showband is Ireland's first Eurovision entry and places
sixth** |
| |
21st, 1970 |
Dana becomes Ireland's
first ever Eurovision Song Contest winner with "All Kinds of
Everything"* |
|
April |
3rd, 2008 |
Dixies vocalist Brendan
O'Brien passed away. |
| |
4th, 1951 |
Adele King, (a.k.a. Twink)
born* |
| |
4th, 1952 |
Gary Moore, former
guitarist with Skid Row and Thin Lizzy, born* |
| |
4th, 2001 |
Butch Moore, former lead
singer with the Capitol Showband passed away in the U.S.* |
| |
8th, 1960 |
Royal Showband temporarily
changes name to Waterford Showband for London performances* |
| |
11th, 1971 |
Omagh based
Hugo Duncan and the
Tall Men debut in Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone |
| |
14th, 1955 |
Boomtown Rat drummer Simon
Crow born in Dun Laoghaire.^ |
| |
19th, 1963 |
First issue of Spotlight
magazine in published in Cork by Lee Press** |
| |
19th, 1943 |
Singer Brian Harkin
born (from his sister Therese). |
| |
19th, 1980 |
Johnny Logan won his
first Eurovision Song Contest with Shay Healy's "What's
Another Year" |
| |
21st, 1965 |
Sligo's Montrose Ballroom
(formerly the Las Vegas) opened with the Royal Blues. |
| |
23rd, 1971 |
RTE TV program "Discaset"
went on the air with Arthur Murphy as Compere. |
| |
24th, 1945 |
Singer Johnny McEvoy
born* |
|
May |
2nd, 1967 |
Vampires and Freshmen
"steal the show" from Beach Boys in Adelphi theatre, Dublin |
| |
6th, 1947 |
Folk/traditional singer
Paul Brady born* |
| |
6th, 1967 |
Dubliner's "Seven Drunken
Nights" entered the British Top Ten charts* |
| |
10th, 1988 |
Dubliner Ciaran Burke passed away.^ |
| |
13th, 1954 |
Sean Sherrard (a.k.a.
Johnny Logan) born* |
| |
15th, 1945 |
Tim Goulding of Dr.
Strangely Strange born in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow^ |
| |
17th, 1961 |
Eithne Ní
Bhraonáin (a.k.a. Enya) born in Greedore, Co. Donegal * |
| |
18th, 1967 |
Boston
Burglar reached number one in the Irish Charts for Johnny
McEvoy |
| |
18th, 1935 |
Dubliner
vocalist
/ guitarist Bobby Lynch born in Dublin.^ |
| |
21st, 1999 |
After 39 years, Late Late
Show host, Gay Byrne, retired.* |
| |
22nd, 1950 |
Bill Whelan, Irish record
producer and composer of Riverdance, born*
|
| |
22nd, 1955 |
Folk singer Mary Black,
born* |
| |
22nd, 2007 |
Dermot O'Brien passed away |
| |
25th, 1967 |
Des and Johnny Kelly
(Capitols) become first brothers to have Irish hit singles
at the same time. |
| |
26th, 1980 |
Derry rock band, The
Undertones, top English charts with "My Favorite Cousin"* |
| |
31st, 1979 |
RTE Radio 2 (now known as
2FM) hit the airwaves* |
|
June |
1st, 2007 |
Tony Loughman passed away |
| |
4th, 1978 |
Belfast born flautist
James Galway reached Number 10 in UK charts with "Annie's
Song"* |
| |
6th, 1957 |
Redbarn Ballroom, Youghal
opened with The Johnny Butler Band** |
| |
6th, 1999 |
Billy Brown passed away at
his home in Johnstown, Nass. |
| |
8th, 1944 |
Boys of the Lough flute player Cathal McConell born in
Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, NI.^ |
| |
10th, 1986 |
Boomtown Rat, Bob Geldoff made an honorary knight by Queen Elizabeth II* |
| |
10th, 2000 |
Irish singer, Frank
Patterson, died suddenly in New York* |
| |
11th, 1951 |
Furey Brothers vocalist / guitarist George Furey born in
Ballyfermot, Co. Dublin.^ |
| |
13th, 1948 |
Tony Hughes (brother of
Colm) of the Ventures in born in Monaghan. |
| |
14th, 1995 |
Guitarist Rory Gallagher
died at age 47 from complications after a liver transplant
operation* |
| |
15th, 1967 |
"Black Velvet Band" by the
Capitol Showband reached Number 1 in the Irish charts* |
| |
16th, 1954 |
Boomtown Rats guitarist
Garry Roberts born in Dublin.^ |
| |
20th, 1955 |
Guitarist (Mushroom &
Starband) and RTE broadcaster Aonghus McAnally born* |
| |
28th, 1945 |
Peter Law (real name Peter
Paul Lawlor) born. |
| |
29th, 2008 |
Female vocal star of the
60's Maisie McDaniel passed away. |
|
July |
2nd, 1957 |
Bridie Murphy reached
number one in Irish Chasrts with "The Boys from the County
Armagh" |
| |
2nd, 1954 |
Boomtown Rat bassist Pete
"Briquette" Cusack born in Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan.^ |
| |
6th, 1960 |
Gay Byrne's "Late Late
Show" debuted on RTE television |
| |
10th, 1990 |
Dixies founding member,
Chris O'Mahony, passed away in Cork** |
| |
12th, 1946 |
Chieftain's bodhran / bones / fiddle / violin player Sean
Keane born in Dublin, Co Dublin.^ |
| |
13th, 1985 |
Live Aid concerts,
organized by Bob Geldoff, raise millions in London and
Philadelphia |
| |
18th, 1968 |
Most of Joe Dolan's
Drifters Showband announce they are leaving to form the
Times |
| |
27th,
2007 |
Former Impact Showband
bass player Bernard Tobin passed away |
| |
29th, 1975 |
Tom Dunphy, vocalist and
bass player formerly of the Royal Showband killed near Drumsna |
| |
30th, 1971 |
Red Hurley and the Nevada
top the Irish charts with "Sometimes" |
| |
31st, 1975 |
Fran O'Toole, Tony
Geraghty, and Brian McCoy of the Miami are gunned down near
Newry |
|
August |
1st, 1938 |
Chieftain uilleann pipe player Paddy Maloney born in
Donnycarney, Co. Dublin.^ |
| |
1st, 2007 |
Tommy Makem passed away |
| |
5th, 1934 |
Late Late Show host, Gay
Byrne born in Dublin* |
| |
10th, 1962 |
The Majestic Ballroom,
Mallow, Co. Cork opened with the Donie Collins Showband** |
| |
13th, 1940 |
Sean "John" Stokes of the
Bachelors born in Dublin.^ |
| |
16th, 2008 |
Dubliner Ronnie Drew
passed away after a long battle with cancer. |
| |
17th, 1943 |
Ivan Pawle of Dr.
Strangely Strange born in England^ |
| |
19th, 1995 |
After 26 years as
Ireland's rock HQ, Dublin's Baggot Inn played host to its
last live concert* |
| |
20th, 1949 |
Thin Lizzy bassist and
lead singer Philip Lynott born* |
| |
20th, 1979 |
Boomtown Rats reach number
one in UK with "I Don't Like Mondays"* |
| |
21st. 2007 |
Hillbillie's Johnny Lynam
passed away |
| |
23rd, 1947 |
Tommy Swarbrigg of the
Times born in Cootehill, Co. Cavan |
| |
30th, 1950 |
Rosemary Scallon (a.k.a.
Dana) born* |
|
September |
1st, 1999 |
Van Morrison became first
inductee into Hot Press Irish Music hall of fame* |
| |
2nd, 1935 |
Clancy
Brother
Liam Clancy born in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary.^ |
| |
6th, 1943 |
Tim Booth of Dr. Strangely
Strange born in Co. Kildare^ |
| |
6th, 2002 |
Death of Bobby Clancy of
the Clancy Brothers* |
| |
10th, 1956 |
Boomtown Rat guitarist
Gerry Cott born in Dun Laoghaire. ^ |
| |
10th, 1956 |
Boomtown Rat keyboardist
Johnny "Fingers" Moylett born in Dun Laoghaire. ^ |
| |
13th, 2008 |
Guitarist Gerry Duggan of
Brotherly Love passed away aged 56. |
| |
16th, 1934 |
Founding Dubliners member,
Ronnie Drew, born
in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.*^ |
| |
18th, 1963 |
"The One-Nighters," a
movie featuring the travels of the Royal Showband, premieres
in Dublin** |
| |
22nd, 1957 |
The Royal Showband
launched as a semi professional band with Brendan Bowyer on
sax** |
| |
28th, 1946 |
Furey Brothers vocalist/uillean pipes player Finbar Furey
born in Ballyfermot, Co. Dublin.^ |
|
October |
1st, 1974 |
Stage Two vocalist,
Brendan O'Brien, electrocuted onstage in the Stardust
Ballroom, Cork** |
| |
2nd, 1962 |
First broadcast of Irish
record charts on RTE Radio** |
| |
2nd, 1982 |
Dubliner Bob Lynch passed
away. ^ |
| |
3rd, 1978 |
Boomtown Rats reach Number
1 in British Charts with "Rat Trap" |
| |
5th, 1953 |
Musician and charity
organizer extraordinaire, Robert "Bob" Geldof, born in Dun
Laoghaire |
| |
10th, 1981 |
Fureys top out at Number
14 in the UK charts with "When You Were Sweet Sixteen"* |
| |
11th, 2007 |
Beat group musician Robbie
Walsh passed away at age 60 |
| |
12th, 1938 |
Brendan Bowyer of the
Royal Showband born in Waterford** |
| |
12th, 1970 |
Horslips, Ireland's first
Celtic Rock band, founded in Dublin* |
| |
15th, 1999 |
Derry born Irish tenor,
Josef Locke, died in Co. Kildare* |
| |
15th, 2003 |
Chieftain harpist Derek
Ball passed away in Phoenix, AZ, USA, one week before
turning 68.^ |
| |
17th, 1940 |
Legendary Dubliner Luke
Kelly born in Dublin.^ |
| |
17th, 1980 |
Grainne and the Strangers
debut in Emyvale, Co. Monaghan |
| |
20th,
2007 |
Vampires'
bass player Mick O'Grady passed away. |
| |
21st, 1935 |
Chieftains harpist Derek Bell born George Derek Fleetwood
Bell in Belfast, Co Antrim, NI.^ |
| |
23rd,
2007 |
Former
Smokey Mtn Rambler and Rocky Top drummer Bernie Fallon
passed away aged 61. |
| |
26th, 1944 |
Folk singer Jim McCann
born in Dublin.^ |
| |
29th,
2007 |
Former Capitol trombonist
Don Long passed away, aged 69. |
|
November |
2nd, 1978 |
RTE 2 television
launched and would provide many opportunities for Irish
entertainers* |
| |
4th,
1932 |
Whistle player Tommy Makem born in Keady, Co Armagh,
Northern Ireland.^ |
| |
7th,
1990 |
Clancy Brother Tom Clancy
passed away in Cork.*^ |
| |
11th,
1998 |
Clancy Brother Paddy Clancy
passed away in Carrick-On-Suir, Co. Tipperary.^ |
| |
17th,
1944 |
Robert "Bobby" Kelly of
the Sands and Greenbeats born in Dublin.^ |
| |
18th,
1940 |
Conleth "Con" Cluskey of
the Bachelors born in Dublin.^ |
| |
22nd,
1968 |
Times Showband release
their debut single, "What Made Milwaukee Famous." |
| |
22nd,
1968 |
Freshmen release their
debut LP, "Movin On." |
| |
27th,
1948 |
Horslip's bassist Barry
Devlin born in Ardboe, Co. Tyrone.^ |
| |
30th,
1974 |
Billy Brown of the
Freshmen married |
|
December |
1st, 1946 |
Singer Gilbert O'Sullivan
born in Waterford* |
| |
7th, 2007 |
Bandleader Michael
O'Callaghan passed away. |
| |
9th, 1971 |
Tina and the Real McCoy's
"I Don't Know How To Love Him" hit number 1 in the Irish
charts** |
| |
10th, 2007 |
Barry Scully passed away,
aged 64. |
| |
12th, 1942 |
Declan Cluskey of the
Bachelors born in Dublin.^ |
| |
16th, 1939 |
Original Dubliner, Barney
McKenna, born
in Donneycarney, Dublin.*^ |
| |
16th, 1967 |
"Treat Me Daughter Kindly"
hit number one in Irish Charts for Pat Lynch and the
Airchords |
| |
19th, 1972 |
Thin Lizzy's "Whiskey In
The Jar" topped Irish charts* |
| |
23rd, 1944 |
Furey Brothers guitarist Eddie Furey born in Ballyfermot, Co
Dublin.^ |
| |
24th, 1938 |
Boys of the Lough's Robin Morton born in Portadown, Co
Armagh, Northern Ireland. ^ |
| |
25th, 1974 |
Gene Stuart and the
Homesteaders play their debut gig |
| |
25th, 1974 |
Margo debuts her new band
Country Pride with Mattie Fox after being off the road for a
time |
| |
26th, 2007 |
Showband legend Joe Dolan
passed away, aged 68 |
| |
27th, 1963 |
Royal Showband's single,
"No More," reached Number one in Irish charts** |
| |
29th, 2001 |
Daniel O'Donnell received
an honorary MBE from Queen for service to Irish music
industry* |
| |
31st, 1961 |
RTE Television went "on
the air"* |
* Entries courtesy of
www.irishcultureandcustoms.com
** Entries culled from Vincent Power's book, Send 'Em Home
Sweatin'
*** Information for Dick Lynott
^ Information from John Warburg
|
