John Duggan carved out his own niche in radio and song
John Duggan, who died recently, was a central player in the life of Mid West Radio for over two decades. A native of Killashee, Co Longford, John, who was in his mid-80s, had been in declining health for some time.
The retired garda hosted the long-running evening show on the station featuring a mix of traditional music and ballads and country and Irish music, interspersed with chat and reflections.
John was a gifted writer, especially when it came to monologues. Nuggets of wisdom were incorporated into many of them and there was no shortage of humour as well.
Back in March 2011, the then president of the GAA, Christy Cooney, presided at the launch of John’s Gaelic Games Recitations CD in Hayes Hotel in Thurles. It was a lovely occasion and some of the great hurlers from Tipperary and Kilkenny were present on the night.
It was while serving as a garda in Glenamaddy that John began writing verses and songs. His songs have become part of the history of the music scene here in Ireland and they include The Old Thrashing Mill, The Rose of Castlerea, The Roads of Kildare, 21 Acres of Land, Golden Dreams and The Hills Around Clonmel.
They have been recorded by Brendan Shine, Foster and Allen, Daniel O’Donnell, Brian Coll, TR Dallas, PJ Murrihy and a host of other artists.
John was laid to rest in St Colman’s Cemetery, Claremorris, after a private family funeral. He is survived by his wife Gretta, family and close friends.
Shawn celebrates 30 years
Shawn Cuddy will celebrate 30 years in country music with a special concert in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Sunday 8 September. The Laois native made an unforgettable debut when he opened the show for Johnny Cash in the Royal Ballroom in Castlebar back in 1989.
Over the last three decades Shawn has played dances and concerts all around the island of Ireland and the UK as well as in Spain and Portugal where he is a regular guest on the overseas country music holiday promotions.
Shawn, who has resided in Donegal for several years, will be joined by Trudi Lalor, John Hogan and Mick Flavin for his celebration night in Tullamore. Tickets are €25 and are available from the hotel reception. Further details are available by calling Sheila on 01236 725665 and visiting shawncuddy.com
Silver Wings from Dawn
Dawn Hetherington has been immersed in the country music scene for many years. She grew up in Guilford, Surrey, where music was a way of life in the family home.
Both of her parents were from Derry and they had a popular band called The Derry Airs that played support to many of the big bands from Ireland that played the dancehall circuit around the London region in those times. Dawn and her sister Majella, who still performs on the folk circuit in England, joined their parents in the family band.
Dawn moved to Ireland in recent months and now resides in Ballybofey. She has just released a new four-track CD which features the Merle Haggard song Silver Wings as the title track.
The others are Clap Your Hands (a big hit for Ronnie Milsap) as well as Every Second and In This Life, both recorded by Collin Raye.
Read more
Heard it through the grapevine
Country Sound: back again
John Duggan carved out his own niche in radio and song
John Duggan, who died recently, was a central player in the life of Mid West Radio for over two decades. A native of Killashee, Co Longford, John, who was in his mid-80s, had been in declining health for some time.
The retired garda hosted the long-running evening show on the station featuring a mix of traditional music and ballads and country and Irish music, interspersed with chat and reflections.
John was a gifted writer, especially when it came to monologues. Nuggets of wisdom were incorporated into many of them and there was no shortage of humour as well.
Back in March 2011, the then president of the GAA, Christy Cooney, presided at the launch of John’s Gaelic Games Recitations CD in Hayes Hotel in Thurles. It was a lovely occasion and some of the great hurlers from Tipperary and Kilkenny were present on the night.
It was while serving as a garda in Glenamaddy that John began writing verses and songs. His songs have become part of the history of the music scene here in Ireland and they include The Old Thrashing Mill, The Rose of Castlerea, The Roads of Kildare, 21 Acres of Land, Golden Dreams and The Hills Around Clonmel.
They have been recorded by Brendan Shine, Foster and Allen, Daniel O’Donnell, Brian Coll, TR Dallas, PJ Murrihy and a host of other artists.
John was laid to rest in St Colman’s Cemetery, Claremorris, after a private family funeral. He is survived by his wife Gretta, family and close friends.
Shawn celebrates 30 years
Shawn Cuddy will celebrate 30 years in country music with a special concert in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Sunday 8 September. The Laois native made an unforgettable debut when he opened the show for Johnny Cash in the Royal Ballroom in Castlebar back in 1989.
Over the last three decades Shawn has played dances and concerts all around the island of Ireland and the UK as well as in Spain and Portugal where he is a regular guest on the overseas country music holiday promotions.
Shawn, who has resided in Donegal for several years, will be joined by Trudi Lalor, John Hogan and Mick Flavin for his celebration night in Tullamore. Tickets are €25 and are available from the hotel reception. Further details are available by calling Sheila on 01236 725665 and visiting shawncuddy.com
Silver Wings from Dawn
Dawn Hetherington has been immersed in the country music scene for many years. She grew up in Guilford, Surrey, where music was a way of life in the family home.
Both of her parents were from Derry and they had a popular band called The Derry Airs that played support to many of the big bands from Ireland that played the dancehall circuit around the London region in those times. Dawn and her sister Majella, who still performs on the folk circuit in England, joined their parents in the family band.
Dawn moved to Ireland in recent months and now resides in Ballybofey. She has just released a new four-track CD which features the Merle Haggard song Silver Wings as the title track.
The others are Clap Your Hands (a big hit for Ronnie Milsap) as well as Every Second and In This Life, both recorded by Collin Raye.
Read more
Heard it through the grapevine
Country Sound: back again
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