Showband greats gearing up to roll back the years
SHOWBAND legends of yesteryear assembled at the Edel Quinn Hall in Kanturk last week to record a landmark programme with John Greene of C103 and to publicise the forthcoming ‘Rolling Back the Years’ concerts at the Cork Opera House and Killarney’s Gleneagle Hotel.
John Greene suggested the Edel Quinn would be the perfect venue to evoke nostalgic memories from Joe Mac (The Dixies), Declan Ryan (The Regal Showband), Oliver O’Donnell (Maurice Mulcahy Orchestra), and Art Supple (The Victors), who were joined by Mary Burke of Crystal Swing.
Event Co-ordinator Sean O’Sullivan explained to the Corkman how the concept of the Shows came about.
“I happened to mention to Art Supple last year that it would be great to get the Showband personalities from Cork together in a concert. It developed from that, the reaction was phenomenal on the night,” said Sean.
The production was staged at a number of Hotels across the city to great acclaim last year, so it was decided to run two further hows at the Opera House and the Gleneagle in October.
The evergreen and effervescent Joe Mac told the Corkman that he is very much looking forward to the Shows.
“There is a huge market for nostalgia, and as well as that I won’t be lasting forever, so people should come and see me where ever I’m appearing,” Joe said with a twinkle in his eye.
He recalled playing in the Edel Quinn even prior to the Dixies turning professional.
“The priest used to come up on the stage here and say the Rosary before the dance started, and of course the birth rate fell to almost below zero,” he joked.
The Corkman, Columnist Timmie Lynch who was a member of the fabulous six piece Band The Young Ones, recalled playing to record crowds all over North Cork and beyond.
Declan Ryan remarked that audiences were almost always in excess of 2,000 people while Oliver O’Donnell mentioned that the Star Ballroom in Millstreet was often so packed, people would dance upstairs as well as downstairs.
‘Rolling Back the Years with the Legends of Cork’s Showband Era’ will run at the Cork Opera House on October 7 & 8 and at the Gleneagle Hotel on October 14.
Artists appearing in the shows will include; Joe Mac, Art Supple, Tony Stevens, Terry McCarthy, Declan Ryan, Mary, Derek, and Dervla Burke of Crystal Swing, Johnny Carroll, Linda Kenny, and Joanna from Tequila Sunrise. The MC will be John Greene of C103.