New book Dancehall Days celebrates Ireland's showband scene

The ‘60s swing again with new book, Dancehall Days: When Showbands Ruled The Stage.

Maria Moynihan

12 November 2014

New book Dancehall Days celebrates Ireland's showband scene

From Dancehall Days: The Nevada Showband poses for a publicity still, Dublin, 14 December 1967.

From Dancehall Days: Showband icon Butch Moore (The Kings Showband; formerly of The Capitol Showband) with UK dance troupe Pan’s People, recording one of six inserts for RTÉ Television’s Top of the Night series,13 September 1968.

From Dancehall Days: Tony Kenny working at Williams Supermarket, Lower Baggot St, Dublin, before going professional as lead vocalist with The Sands Showband, 5 October 1967.

From Dancehall Days:After his performance with The Drifters on Radio Éireann’s 17 Club, Joe Dolan signs autographs for excited fans, 18 December 1967. Dolan would become the biggest international star of the Irish showband scene.

From Dancehall Days: Queen of Country and Irish’ Margo O’Donnell, sister of singer Daniel O’Donnell, with actor Frank O’Donovan on the set of RTÉ Television’s soap opera The Riordans, at Dunboyne, County Meath, 20 January 1969. O’Donovan played the character of Batty Brennan on the show.

Dancehall Days by Michael O’Reilly is published by Gill & MacMillan, RRP €29.99.

From Dancehall Days: Maxi, Dick and Twink, Dublin singing trio, on RTÉ Television’s Top of the Night, 4 November 1968: Maxi (Irene McCoubrey, centre), Dick (Barbara Dixon, left) and Twink (Adele King). The three began singing together when they were at school in St Louis Convent, Rathmines, Dublin.

Rare and unseen images of music legends, including The Dubliners, Thin Lizzy, Tom Jones and the Everly Brothers, are among over 300 photographs that feature in a new book, Dancehall Days, celebrating the halcyon days of the showband era.

Taken from the remarkable private collection of former Spotlight Magazine photographer Michael O’Reilly, the mix of dynamic live shots and intimate portraits capture the excitement, glamour and hysteria of the showband scene, as well as the emergence of the folk and Irish rock movement.

A must for music lovers, Dancehall Days by Michael O’Reilly is published by Gill & MacMillan. Special offer for Country Living/Farmers Journal readers – get Dancehall Days for €24 (plus free p&p). Usual price €30. Call 01-500 9570 and quote IFJ.

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