On The Town: Musicians from the showbands of the 1960s gathered in the Teachers' Club in Parnell Square, Dublin, to relive old memories this week.
Publication of a new book, entitled Good Night, God Bless and Safe Home, by Finbar O'Keefe, was the reason for the party.
There were 700 bands playing at more than 400 venues in Ireland at the peak of the showband era, according to Donie Cassidy, the newly elected Fianna Fáil deputy from Castlepollard, in Co Westmeath, who was guest speaker on the night. He spoke of the bygone days of the showband era when it was all about "the Brylcreem of the lads and the beehives of the lassies".
The showband business was important in the days when the average wage was about £10 a week in the early 1960s, he said. Musicians, on the other hand, were earning close to £100 per week, he said.
Cassidy, who was a senator for 20 years before he was elected to the Dáil this year, was once a band-leader himself. As he scanned the room of faces at the party, he listed all the names from the golden era of dancehalls who were present, including Liam Ryan, owner of the now defunct Olympic Ballroom in Dublin, Doc Carroll, who had the first Irish No 1 with Old Man Trouble and gave Louis Walsh his start in the business, and Syd Shine, the 82-year-old band leader of Syd Shine and the Saints, who was applauded for his energy, talent and commitment to the business from the earliest days. Shine started playing in 1938.
When O'Keefe's book has its Athlone launch in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, on October 14th, Syd and the Saints, along with O'Keefe - one of their members - will take to the stage once again.
Broadcaster and singer Donncha Ó Dulaing, who presents the Saturday morning Radio 1 programme, Fáilte Isteach, was also among the guests who came to remember what it was like in the golden showband era.
Cassidy, who continues to promote a select number of musicians, was delighted that Isla Grant, the Scottish singer/songwriter, was arriving last night to start her Irish tour of 40 nights. Her performance will include songs from her newly released album, Childhood Memories, he said.
Born in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, O'Keefe, joined the Irish Army School of Music when he was 15. Later, he joined the Saints Showband. Goodnight, God Bless and Safe Home is published by O'Brien Press.