10 years on, there’s still no show like a Joe show

Music with Eddie Rowley

NEARLY a decade after his death, Ireland’s all-time favourite entertainer Joe Dolan is still creating a buzz in the world of showbiz.

Last month, thanks to the magic of technology, Joe ‘performed’ two shows at the National Concert Hall in Dublin with the RTE Concert Orchestra.

Ireland’s answer to Elvis took the spotlight through a video recording while his former band, featuring his brother Ben, played live on stage with the orchestra.

The ‘sold out’ signs went up for both events as crowds flocked from all corners of Ireland to relive their happy times at a Joe show. And whenever Joe spoke on screen, the audiences reacted to the singer as if he was there in person.

“It was like old times, the difference being that Joe wasn’t actually in the build- ing, other than in spirit,” Ben said afterwards.

Joe’s legacy also lives on through his music that includes hits like ‘Make Me An Island’, ‘You’re Such A Good Looking Woman’ and ‘Goodbye Venice Goodbye’.

And the current album, Joe Dolan – Orchestrated, Vol 1, featuring the Mullingar star singing with the RTE Concert Orchestra, has proved to be a smash hit. Ben Dolan was last week presented with a platinum disc for sales of the unique recording.

This Christmas marks the 10th anniversary of Joe’s shock passing at the age of 68, and his family of musicians and singers — his brother Ben, nephews Adrian and Ray and niece, Sandra — along with the original Joe Dolan band and singer Karen Carroll, plus comedians Sil Fox and Frank Forde, will tour the country bringing his music to fans nationwide.

The December and January shows include Ashbourne House Hotel, Co Meath; TLT Theatre, Drogheda; Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar; Red Cow Moran Hotel, Dublin and South Court Hotel in Limerick.