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Posted by Johnny Mee on September 05, 2003 at 22:02:01: In Reply to: Re: Castlebar Showbands... photos, memories posted by Simpico on August 30, 2003 at 19:38:37:
Stephen Garvey had a great band for many years. Also produced the Gilbert and Sullivan operas in the Town Hall (Pirates of Penzance, Mikado and many others). Joe Chambers, Phil Hoban, Mattie Armstrong and others played leading roles in those operas. Stephen had a Hammond Organ and was resident organist in the Parish Church for many years. Raised a lot of many for the church when it was struck with the death watch beetle. Other bands at this time were Brose Walsh (wonderful to see this band still going strong), Tony O'Grady from Manulla, Eddie Roy (real name, I think, was Paddy McDavitt), the Cecelians, made up of the Gavin and Reynolds families. Charlie Reynolds lived beside me in McHale Road, a wonderful violinst, Seanie Gavin, a great sax player, Tommy O'Brien, George Wolfe, Danny McCormack, drummer, Seamus Gavin, Kerr Gavin, Liam Gavin, and before that, I don't remember it, in the 20s, their father, Johnny Gavin. His wife, Grace Delaney, played the piano in the Palace Cinema on the Main Street (Faheys shop), where my late father, Jimmy Mee, showed the pictures. Downstairs there was a bicyle shop, owned by a man named Brady, whose slogan was 'Brady for Bikes,' married a sister of Grace Delaney,who was drowned, a young woman, in Rosses Point, Sligo, I think. Mark Killilea from Tuam, later to become a member of Dail Eireann was a bicyle mechanic in Bradys, went on the run with the West Mayo Brigage Old IRA, father of Mark Killalea Junior, a Dail Deputy and MEP, a great friend of my father, Jimmy Swift, Jim Devaney, Mike Hughes, Dolly and Broddie Chambers, Broddie Malone. Of the older group of musicians, Jimmy Feeney is still still going strong, a lovely trumpeter who knows music inside out. 'Star' Thornton, P. W. Leamy, Johnny Mulvey and Joe Burke from Ballyvary (also a fine footballer), also had a bands. And, of course, my near neighbour, the fabulous Nan Monaghan, up there with the best of them Who is out there listening? Lots more stories on this front ... Madam Bourke, Sonny Comer, the Devaneys, Kevin Bourke and his sons, Dessie King, Mick Cuffe, Bernie Murphy. This could give me writers cramp.
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