DROGHEDA MOURNS THE DEATH OF MUSICAL LEGEND EAMONN CAMPBELL
FROM THE HUMBLE STREETS OF DROGHEDA TO PLAYING AT THE BIGGEST VENUES IN THE WORLD. EAMONN CAMPBELL WAS A PROUD SON OF THE BOYNESIDE, A PLACE HE HELD DEAR TO HIS HEART. HUBERT MURPHY LOOKS BACK ON HIS REMARKABLE JOURNEY
FROM 9 William Street to the greatest music halls, concert venues and exotic locations in the world, Eamonn Campbell was a true star and a true son of Drogheda. His death last week at the age of 70 ended yet another chapter in the history of the town, closed another book - a day when the music died just a little bit more.
A former student at St Joseph’s CBS, he loved the guitar and began to learn under Frank Cassidy from Patrick Street.
His early music career would be with Louis Smith and the Delta Boys and in February 1964, the Bee Vee’s Five was formed. They were out to cater for all tastes and practised three nights a week in the Palm Court ballroom.
Their first gig was on a double bill with the Graduates in the Abbey in July of that year.
They were managed by businessman BV Anderson and Eamonn was part of that set up with John Donnelly, 8 Peter Street,on drums,
Errol Sweeney, St. Anthony’s, Mornington, on rhythm guitar, Gerry Saurin, Tullyallen, (bass guitar), and John Leonard. 4 Nun’s Walk, who was the vocalist.
Eamonn joined Dermot O’Brien and the Clubmen but within a few years, Eamon was with The Tigermen, under the astute management of young Des Wickham and they became household names, with Timmy Regan and Ken Doyle two fine frontmen.
Manager Wickham, from Bettystown, said at the time: “Promoters are realising I have a good product to sell and are prepared to give us the breaks ‘ That’s all we ask. I know the band will ceate the right impression with dancers. Trumpeter Willie Healy, guitar man Eamonn Campbell (rated one of the best in the country) and drummer Johnny Barton are all men with experience in the top league.’
They toured Britain and were much in demand.
Gerry Hughes was also on bass guitar at one stage with Charlie Daniels, tenor sax.
By 1971, Eamonn was back with
Dermot O’Brien and the ClubmenClubmen, including Willie Healy, Tony Barrett, Johnny Barton, Derek McCormack and Timmy Regan, enjoying a hit with the “Old Claddagh Ring.”
By this stage he had already met the Dubliners on a tour and as the years rolled on, his star rose. In the 1960s, many locals got the chance to learn from the best when Eamonn was the guitar teacher at the Sound Shop at 14 North Quay.
He became a top music producer as well as performer and worked with Foster and Allen, Brendan Shine, Billy Jo Spears, Daniel O’Donnell, the Fureys and Paddy Reilly. His arrangement of the ‘Fields of Athenry’ made it a world hit.
He teamed up with the Dubliners and toured the world for three decades, and latterly with the Dublin Legends.
He had his moments - once suggesting that the group team up with The Pogues to record ‘ The Irish Rover’ - and the rest was history. He even appeared on Top of the Pops with them!
In 1985, he helped out Fiddlers Green and he arranged the old Woody Guthrie classic for them - ‘Deportees’ - about the harsh treatment received by illegal immigrants from Mexico to the United States.
He always loved his home town although he moved to live in Dublin and was a proud Grand Marshal at the 2009 St Patrick’s Day parade in town.
He once said that Moore’s at Sunday’s Gate and The Market Bar in Magdalene Street were his favourite haunts in years gone by and his best thing about Drogheda - a walk along the Ramparts and back across the bridge to Mell. ‘My mother used to make us walk it after lunch on Sundays,’ he stated.
HE TEAMED UP WITH THE DUBLINERS AND TOURED THE WORLD