Jimmyjoinedbysome very special guests
STEPHEN TRAVERS AMONG THOSE TO JOIN JIMMY REIDY FOR A FASCINATING EDITION OF ‘ROUND THE FIRESIDE’
THE inimitable Jimmy Reidy’s ‘Round the Fireside’ programme, which regularly attracts thousands of listeners on C103FM, has over the years hosted numerous amazing guests and a forthcoming edition to be broadcast on Monday, September 18 promises to be extra special.
Guests at the recording of the Show at the Heritage Centre in Freemount included Stephen Travers, the Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Platform (TARP), Eugene Reavey from Armagh and Musician John Travers from Kilkenny.
Many readers of The Corkman will be familiar with Stephen Travers, who as Bass Guitarist with the Miami Showband played all the halls around North Cork on a regular basis.
Stephen and his fellow band member Des Lee were the only ones to survive the horrendous Miami Showband massacre which took place in Co Down as the Band were returning to Dublin from a gig in Banbridge on July 31, 1975.
Stephen who was critically wounded lay in the field for 45 minutes before help arrived. His experiences prompted him to set up TARP which he established two years ago.
Stephen spoke to The Corkman about his passion for the project.
“It is more than forty years since the terrorist attack, universally known as The Miami Showband Massacre, which irrevocably changed my life. Since then, I have visited troubled parts of the world and spoken at international conferences on the needs and concerns of victims of terrorism,” said Stephen.
“Having addressed radicalisation awareness conventions and organisations across Europe that study the cause, effect and prevention of terrorism, I am convinced, now more than ever, that there is not a more efficient deterrent to violence, a more effective antidote to radicalisation, or a more valuable instrument of reconciliation than the testimony of the victim.”
He went on to explain that TARP was established to give victims, regardless of their political, religious or cultural backgrounds, an opportunity to speak for themselves.
“To tell their own story - in their own words - “so that the terrible consequences of political violence will never be forgotten and the mistakes of the past will never be repeated,” said Stephen..
On a lighter note, Stephen recalled playing in the Community Centre in Freemount.
“I played just up the road here you know” he said with a smile, recalling the other major venues in North Cork such as the Star Ballroom in Millstreet, the Majestic in Mallow, the Edel Quinn in Kanturk, and the Hi Land in Newmarket.
Stephen who has previously been a guest on ‘Round the Fireside’ also paid tribute to it’s Presenter.“Jimmy Reidy is unique in so far as he is one of the most natural broadcasters of all, his knowledge and his way about him is invaluable and a vitally important part of our culture, he is actually one of our national treasures”, Stephen said.
While he still plays concerts and festivals with Johnny Feehan, (Horslips lead singer and guitarist), Stephen has many more strings to his bow.
While living in the UK in the early 1980’s he founded the Irish World Newspaper and was it’s first Editor.
“That took me off on another adventure, I learned a lot from that experience which helped me when I decided to write the Miami Showband Massacre Book with Neil Featherstonhaugh.
The book was subsequently picked up by Hollywood a few years ago. Stephen has co-written the script, and filming is now imminent.
“We’re just trying to decide on the right director and choose the actors. Our Casting Company is run by John and Ros Hubbard, who cast Harry Potter and the Hobbit. Ros is originally from Dublin and knew the Miami Band members, said Stephen.
The current working title of the Film is ‘Clap your Hands’ (a song which was one of Fran O’ Toole’s big hits).
Eugene Reavey from South Armagh was yet another who suffered terribly during the troubles.
One evening in 1976 three of his brothers were murdered while watching TV in the family home at Whitecross. Even all these years later, it is clearly difficult for him to speak about the terrible events of that time.
The attack was carried out by the UVF’s infamous Glenanne gang, which operated in a murder triangle spread between south Armagh and mid-Ulster.
A monument to commemorate Eugene’s three brothers murdered by the UVF 40-years ago was erected at the family’s south Armagh home last year.
Stephen and Eugene were accompanied on ‘Round the Fireside’ by Kilkenny musician John Travers who is an accomplished singer and guitar player. John operates his own recording studio and has been the musical director for numerous productions nationwide.