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The Showbands of the 50's and 60's

Currently listing 867 showbands as of 21 April, 2008

The true era of the Irish showbands actually started in the mid 1950's, but really didn't catch fire and explode until the 1960's. Many other websites have done a great job articulating how and why the showbands came about. What is certain is that a showband had just one job...entertain the crowds and "keep them dancing."

The term "showband" was reportedly coined by legendary Belfast musician Dave Glover. In a 1989 interview on BBC Ulster radio he said that although the Clipper Carlton were the first band to put on a show with their "Saturday Night Jukebox" segment, he first added the word to his band's name, becoming The Dave Glover Showband. Although in later years the term would come to identify a broad range of musical styles, in the mid 1950's it meant just that...the band included a "show" in the middle of the evening. Usually this "show" included comedy skits, impersonations, or other acts that stopped the crowd in their tracks and they watched the "show" for up to a half hour or more, after which time dancing would be resumed. Click here to listen to Dave's story about the term "showband." (You must have Real Player to hear the streaming audio).

The pictures below are a who's who of the showband scene in the mid 1960's this is the front and back covers of the 1966 Spotlight Annual (kindly contributed by Liam O'Reilly). Click on either photo to get a large size image and the names of all the stars!       

Before the days of electric guitars, keyboards, and synthesizers, brass instruments dominated the music of Ireland. Every showband worth its salt had two, or even three or more, brass players. Although brass instruments were overtaken by guitars and organs in American and British pop music in the sixties, showbands, and some notable pop acts, continued to feature brass.

This was the period in Irish entertainment history that gave the country its first "superstars." Names like Dickie Rock, Brendan Bowyer, Butch Moore, and many others, came to prominence during the heyday of the showbands in the 1960's. Ballrooms dotted the countryside and were packed with "punters" every night. Bands like the Capitol, the Clipper Carlton, the Royal Showband, the Sands, and many others created an industry that employed upwards of 10,000 people at its peak.

Legends Brose Walsh and Jack Ruane in 1980

Of course these bands were huge, but not all bands were making thousands of pounds a night. Thanks to member Declan Byrne, we have an exclusive from his late mother's collection of memorabilia. Click on the small photo at the left to see the full size image. For those who can't wait to see, the date was 1966, the band was The Royal Earls Showband, and the fee was £60 for five hours from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Those were the days!

Seeing Double: As you peruse the list below, you will occasionally see the same band name twice, but from different towns. This isn't a mistake and the bands didn't move. Often two bands in different parts of the country would choose the same name. Depending on where they played, this usually did not create a problem, but when it did, one band usually changed its name. There are several great resources about this era in Irish entertainment history including Vincent Power's book, Send 'Em Home Sweatin' and Finbar O'Keefe's book, Goodnight, God Bless and Safe Home.            

The photo at left was donated by Liam O'Reilly and was taken in Donegal in 1963. Each ballroom was running twice a week with top bands in all the venues. Click on the photo for a full size version. Most amazingly, all these halls were within twenty miles of Letterkenny.

**We owe major thanks to Patrick Hoye for his help and continuing support in building this list. A very special thanks to David Dwane of the Western People, Billy Swann, formerly of The Cossacks Showband, Joe Dodd, and Liam O'Reilly of the Columbia Showband (among others), who generously contributed their collections of photographs to the website. Also our thanks go to Michael Nesbitt, Glen Brown, John Baird, Dick Lynott, Jan Lynch, Anne Lynch, Lorraine Clarke, Karl Compton, Paddy Brennan, and Teddie Palmer for additional info and photos.   

Click here to see main gallery of photos.                   Click here to visit our personal photo collections

Click on any blue highlighted Showband name to see their photos

Abilene Showband** [Ballina] (later became the Fairways)
Action Showband*** [Dublin]
Agents Showband [Edenderry] (featured Ollie then Gary Street - RIP, they became the Fairways in the late 60's)
Airchords Showband [Dublin] (featured Pat Lynch-broke up in 1971 with several members joining Red Hurley's Wheels)
Airliners Showband** [Dublin]
Allegros Showband** [Unknown]
Buddy Allen Showband^ [Belfast]
Ray Allen Showband^ [Summerhill] (resident in Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin)
Alleykatz Showband^ [Lambeg]
Altonaires Showband/P2 [Dublin]
Alpine Showband featuring Monty Snow [Belfast]
Alpine Seven Showband** [Dublin]
Ambassador 7 Showband [Limerick]
Ambassadors Dance Orchestra^ [Belfast]
American Express [Unknown]
Amigos Showband** [Belfast]
Angels Showband** [Dublin]
Annalee's Showband/P2** [Ballyhaise]
Paul Anthony Showband^ [Carndonagh]
Apache Showband [Unknown]
Apollo Showband** [Hollywood]
Arabs Showband** [Belfast]
Aran Showband*** [Dublin]
Arcadians Showband [Navan] (featured Jimmy Smith and Joe Higgins on lead vocals)
Archers Showband** [Cork]
Argonauts Showband^ [Banbridge]
Ariel Showband^ [Derry]
Arrans Showband [Dublin]
Arranville Showband [Lifford]
Arrivals Showband (featuring Declan Ryan) [Cork]
Arrows Showband [Unknown]
Artones Showband** [Wicklow]
Ascot Showband^ [Limerick]
Gene and the Assassins [Unknown]
Astrals Showband^ [Galway]
Astronauts Super Star Showband [Loughrea]
Atlantic Showband [Waterford]
Atlantis Showband [Dublin]
Avengers Showband [Athlone]
Avengers Showband** [Limerick]
Avonairs Showband/P2 [Arklow]
Avonaires Showband** [Belfast]
Aztecs Showband^ [Belfast]
Jim Bacon Orchestra** [Dublin]
Bandits Showband/P2/P3 [Tuam]
Bankers [Derry] (originally The Barristers Showband switched names in late 1966)
Jimmy Banks Showband [Dublin]
Toby Bannon Orchestra** [Dublin]
Banshees Showband/P2 [Belfast]
Barnstormers Showband** [Dublin]
Barons Showband [Dublin]
Barristers Showband/P2/P3 [Derry] (became The Bankers)
Barrow Boys Showband [Craignamanagh]
Batchelors [Dublin] (Photo-BOK)
Syd Bates Orchestra*** [Belfast]
Bats Showband*** [Belfast]
Beat Minstrels Showband** [Louisburg]
Beaumont Seven Showband [Derry]
Beavers Showband [Bray]
Belaires Showband [Dublin]
Bel-Aires Showband [Ballyclare]
Beltona Showband** [Bushmills]
Beltones Showband^ [Limerick]
Bermuda Showband [Loughrea]
Berwyn Showband/P2 [Limerick]
Big Five Showband^ [Derry]
Big Time Showband** [Galway]
Benny Birkett Orchestra* [Unknown]
Black Aces Showband [Kilkenny] (featured Ollie Kearney and then Sonny Cullen in late 60's)
Blackbirds Showband* [Dublin] (thanks to Joe Dodd)
Black Diamonds Showband** [Unknown]
Black Dots Showband [Longford] (Photo-PB)
Black Eagles [Dublin]
Black Knights^ [Rathdowney]
Jim Blaine Showband [Unknown] (photo courtesy David Dwane)
Blarney Ceili Band^ [Cork]
Blazers Showband** [Galway]
Blue Aces Showband [Waterford] (Formed in 1957, moved to London in 1964 to make it, broke up around '66.)
Blue Aces Showband [Galway] (Same name, different band...on the road in the late 1960's)
Blue Angels^ [Belfast]
Blue Angels Showband [Clonmel]
Blue Beats Showband^ [Belfast]
Blue Beats Showband^ [Dublin]
Blue Clavons** [Dublin] (late 50's band gave Butch Moore and Jimmy Hogan of the Capitol their starts in Dublin)
Blue Crystals Showband** [Dublin]
Blue Diamonds Showband** [Dublin]
Blue Eagles [Thomastown]
Blue Glows Showband** [Letterkenny]
Blue Hurricane Showband [Unknown]
Blue Notes Showband [Derry]
Blue Notes Showband [Arklow]
Blue River Boys** [Belfast]
Blue Rockets Showband** [Cork] (originally called The Blue Rockets)
Blue Zodiacs Showband [Dublin]
Bluebeats Showband** [Belfast]
Jimmy Boggan Showband^ [Dublin]
Harry Boland Band [Unknown]
Boston Showband [Drogheda] (thanks to Paddy Brennan)
Boston Stompers [Waterford]
Jimmy Boyce Showband^ [Castlereagh]
Boys from County Mayo with Eileen Donaghy [Unknown] (thanks to Dick Lynott)
Breakaways Showband/P2/P3 [Magherafelt] (where Brendan Quinn got his start)
Breda McMahon and the Golden Star [Unknown]
Brian Rock and The Boys** [Dublin]
Bridesiders Showband/P2 [Tallow]
Jack Brierley Showband [Douglas, Co. Cork]
Brigadons Showband* [Dublin]
Broadsiders Showband featuring Deidre Downes [Unknown]
Broadway Showband [Belfast] (featured Oliver Harcourt in the late 1960's)
Bromwells Showband*** [Cork]
Brother's Showband** [Newtownabbey] 
Pete Browne and his Band of Renown [Kiltimagh]
Brunswick Showband** [Belfast] 
Buccaneers Showband featuring Des Kelly [Unknown]
Ritchie Burbridge Orchestra^ [Dublin]
Buoylanders Showband^ [Belfast]
Pat Burke Seven Showband^ [Cahir]
Burmah Showband** [Unknown]
Burton Showband^ [Mountnorris, Co. Armagh]
Dolly Butler Band [Cork]
Johnny Butler Orchestra [Dublin] (started in the 1930's and went to America in 1956)
Bye-Laws [Dublin]
Chris Byrne Showband** [Dublin]
Jay Byrne Showband/P2* [Wicklow]
Cadets Showband [Dublin] (Eileen Reid was Ireland's first female superstar with a string of hit records)
Cadillac Showband** [Kingscourt]
Calandos Showband** [Kildare]
Johnny Calvert Showband** [Belfast]
Pat Campbell & his Showband [Monaghan]
Cameron Clan* [Larne] (C&W band which featured Tom Cameron who enjoyed a solo career as a fiddler)
Mark Canavan and his Band* [Arklow]
Jim Cantwell Big Band [Unknown] (10 piece band which featured Paddy Day as lead vocalist in 1970)
Capitol Showband (w/Butch Moore) [Dublin] (One of the great showbands...Butch passed away in April, 2001)
Capri Four** [Cork]
Captain's Showband** [Unknown]
Carling Showband** [Finaghy]
Carlton Showband** [Lurgan]
Carnegie Showband^ [Irvinestown]
Carolina Showband** [Mullingar]
Caroline Showband/P2/P3/P4 [Dublin] (featured Earl Jordan)
Carousel Showband [Dublin]
Billy Carter Showband^ [Dublin]
Gene Carr Showband^ [Bishopstown]
Cascades [Belfast]
Dick Cashman Showband [Cork]
Casino Showband [Dublin] (became the Indians in 1971 and are still on the go today)
Casuals (featuring Dawn Knight)/P2 [Monaghan]
Stan Cauley Orchestra [Derry]
Cavalier Showband [Limerick]
Central Seven Showband [Ferbane]
Tony Chambers Orchestra [Castlebar]
Chancellors Showband** [Drogheda] (featured singer Mickey Rooney)
Charade Showband^ [Dublin]
Checkers Showband [Derry] (featured Pat McCrossan in the late 60's)
Checkmates [Belfast]
Checkmates [Drogheda]
Chessmen (featuring Alan Dee) [Dublin] (Popular in the mid to late 60's)
Chimes Showband [Dublin]
Chord-En-Aires Showband [Larne]
Citizens Showband** [Dublin]
Bud Clancy Showband** [Limerick]
Clansmen Showband [Dublin]
Eber Clarke Orchestra [Newry]
Classic Dance Band [Donegal] (band formed by the late John Kerr)
Classic Showband [Mullingar]
Clavichords Showband*** [Dublin]
Claxton Showband/P2  [Drumquin]
Clefonaires/P2 [Sligo] (Frankie Brennan of the Clefonaires passed away in October, 2003)
Cliffords Showband [Dublin]
Clifton Showband^ [Portadown]
Clipper Carlton Showband [Strabane] (The "original" showband - originators of the Saturday Night Jukebox dance)
Clippertones [Keady, Co. Armagh]
Clouds  [Unknown] (voted Best new band in Spotlight 1969 poll)
Clubmen (featuring Dermot O'Brien) [Dublin]
Coasters Showband/P2 [Larne]
Coasters Showband [Derry]
Nat Coleman Showband [N.I.]
College Boys [Newtownabbey] (Northern showband from the 60's, and again in the 80's)
College Showband/P2 [Limerick]
Collegemen Showband (featuring Des Smyth) [Dublin]
Collette and the Partners [Unknown]
Donie Collins Showband [Askeaton]
Columbia Showband [Arklow]
Comets Showband [Omagh]
Comet Tones Showband** [Unknown]
Commodores Showband** [Dublin]
Jimmy Compton Showband* [Belfast]
Confederates Showband [Co. Tyrone]
Noel Connell Showband** [Dundonald]
Chris Connolly Ceili Band^ [Kilcullen]
Conquerors^ [Birr] (moved to Galway, became a pop band in the early 70's and are still going strong today)
Consuls Showband^ [Cork]
Continental Showband [Bangor]
Continentals Showband [Limerick]
Concords Showband [Lucan]
Billy Conway Showband/P2 [Limerick]
Coral Showband** [Ballymena]
Cordettes Showband [Loughrea]
Corsairs Showband^ [Belfast]
Cortina Showband [Nenagh]
Pascal Cosgrove Showband [Foxford]
Cosmos Showband/P2 [Larne]
Cossacks Showband/P2 [Ballymena] (Click here to go to Billy Swann's great website about the band)
Cossacks Showband** [Tipperary]
Joe Coughlan Orchestra*** [Dublin]
Countdown Showband [Bundoran]
Countrymen Showband [Clara, Co Offaly]
Counts Showband^ [Ballyphehane]
Courtelles Showband [Greenisland]
Cousins Showband [Newtownabbey] (featured lead singer Clarke Frampton-our thanks to Teddie Palmer for info)
Cowboys Showband [Carrick-On-Suir]
Crackaways Showband (featuring Patricia)^/P2/P3 [Clara]
George Crawford Showband^ [Belfast]
Creole Showband** [Athlone]
Creoles Showband [Unknown]
Crescendos Showband** [Belfast]
Crescent Showband [Donegal]
Crested Knights Showband** [Kells]
Cricket Showband/P2/P3 [Dublin]
Crowns Showband [Tralee]
Jack Cuddihy and the Embassy Band [Unknown]