CHUCK BERRY IN SLIGO
MEMORIES of the Ballisodare music festival came flooding back for many this week following the death last Saturday of Chuck Berry at the age of 90. The American guitarist, singer and songwriter, one of the pioneers of rock and roll music was the headline act at the famous Ballisodare music festival in August 1981 that also included a number of leading folk and traditional groups and singers including Ralph McTell, Freddie White, Christy Moore, Stockton’s Wing, Clannad and De Danann. It was the famous festival’s fifth event which ran for one more year. It had been founded by two brothers, Kevin and Philip Flynn. The music event was orginally known as the Boys of Ballisodare Festival and ran over the three days of the August Bank Holiday week- end. Chuck Berry played on the Sunday afternoon of August 9th1981. One fan who travelled from Mullingar contacted the Champion this week to say the singer played for about 45 minutes and it was a major highlight but thought he’d play for longer. The event was staged along the river in front of the famous local pub, The Thatch.