Here are some great pictures from two of our most recent launches!

‘From The Candy Store To The Galtymore’ throws spotlight onto showband era

The secrets of how a nation danced  and met up back in the swinging sixties are revealed in a new book recalling the halcyon days of the showband era which was launched this week.

‘From The Candy Store to the Galtymore’ chronicles the changing socializing habit in rural and urban Ireland between the late fifties to the mid seventies through the stories of the young men and women who religiously went to their local Ballroom of Romance each weekend.

The book echoes an era of social and cultural uprising in Ireland as the country began dancing the weekends away to the sounds of showbands in newly-built ballrooms.

It was the time of Larry Cunningham, Joe Dolan, Brendan Bowyer, Dickie Rock and Butch Moore and wherever they played, the crowds followed.

Queen of Country & Irish Margo O’Donnell, writes a harrowing account of how she met a down-and-out before a show in London and became great friends with him as he battled against drink before his death. It is a story of sadness but full also of pride in how he turned his life around to die a proud man.

Fr Brian D’Arcy who was chaplain to the stars, tells a myriad of stories from that time. One of major interest was how Brendan Bowyer, whilst touring in England and having just received a major musical award, came to play in Liverpool. At that gig, he was supported by a young local band called the Beatles. Lennon and McCartney were in awe of the Royals and their luxury touring wagon. They wondered aloud if they’d ever make enough money to buy a bus like theirs. Bowyer told them to keep writing their songs and who knows, maybe one day they’d make it!

The book, which is dedicated to music man extraordinaire, Ricey Scully, also contains two hilarious stories rolled into one by the former Twiggs and Crackaways member concerning The Singing Nun and U2.

Co-editors PJ Cunningham and Dr Joe Kearney trawled the country over the past year to bring Ireland’s showband stories together in one book.

In all, there are 70  contributions contained in this social and cultural review of the time.

Queen of Country & Irish Margo O’Donnell, writes a harrowing account of how she met a down-and-out before a show in London and became great friends with him as he battled against drink before his death. It is a story of sadness but full also of pride in how he turned his life around to die a proud man.

The book, which is dedicated to music man extraordinaire, Ricey Scully, also contains two hilarious stories rolled into one by the former Twiggs and Crackaways member concerning The Singing Nun and U2.

“From The Candy Store To The Galtymore is a collection with twists in every turn – stories of romance, of chance meetings and tales that are funny and maybe even mischievous,” said PJ.

“All human life gathered for the weekly dances in what was a cultural shift away from the more formal céilís which held sway up until then.

“The showband dances were modern and slightly more brash occasions than the country had been used to but, if anything, the number of stories of love and loss, rows and ructions, fun and games grew in the new environment.

“The book looks at this era from left of centre and collects the forgotten, overlooked or rarely-told stories of that time.”

The sources are mainly ordinary folk with some interesting insights from singers, musicians and band managers as well.

It is available all over the country from this week and is published by Ballpoint Press.

From The Candy Store To The Galtymore is Co-edited by PJ Cunningham and Dr Joe Kearney (Ballpoint Press 2017) (€14.99)

Ends

Media information: PJ Cunningham, 086 821 7631, [email protected]

Available for interview: PJ Cunningham, 086 821 7631, [email protected]