The Castlebar International Song Contest was, without doubt, the best song contest ever staged on the island of Ireland. It was true to its name: Song Contest. The emphasis was always on the song – and not on the hype and showmanship that has made a mockery of song contests around the world.

Memories of those special decades come flooding back with the recent launch of a magnificent book compiled by former director of the contest Paddy McGuinness. Castlebar International Song 1966-1988, runs to over 400 pages and is the essential history of an amazing era in the capital town of Mayo. It was a wonderful team effort by so many devoted members from all walks of life in the Castlebar community. The Castlebar Song Contest enjoyed phenomenal success, always featuring in the RTÉ Top 10 TAM ratings.

In the early years, the event was staged over four nights. In 1973, 11 of the 36 finalists came from behind what was known as the former Iron Curtain: Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia.

Castlebar attracted the crème de la crème of writers, performers, and top personalities in an era when real stars strode the stage. Gay Byrne, Terry Wogan, Mike Murphy, Shay Healy, Johnny Logan, Butch Moore, Frank Hall, Brendan Balfe, Val Joyce, Larry Gogan, Charles Mitchell, Brendan O’Reilly, and so many more were all visitors to Castlebar.

22-year history

Some people nowadays may not recall just how big a show the Castlebar International Song Contest became during its 22-year run. The show, in time, was to become synonymous with host Mike Murphy.

Back home in Castlebar, Paddy McGuinness was the front man for the committee that steered this major show year after year. Paddy had come to Castlebar from Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan in 1962 to take up a job in Castlebar Post Office.

The Royal Ballroom at the Travellers Friends Hotel (TF) was home to the contest each year, except in 1986 when it was staged in The Beaten Path, Brize, Claremorris.

Along with Paddy McGuinness, names that were very closely associated with the event over the years were John McHale, Henry McGlade, Pat Jennings, Peadar Flynn, Seán Horkan, David Flood, the late and much-lamented PJ Hennelly and Tom Courell, both of The Connaught Telegraph, Tom Gillespie, and Tommy Jennings to mention but some.

The jury

In 1970, a host of showband singers served as jury members for the week including Big Tom, Gene Stuart, Seán Dunphy, Derek Deane, Billy Browne, Jim Nash, Brendan O’Brien, Joe McCarthy, Dermot Hegarty, Tony Kenny, Pat Ely, DJ Curtin, Art Supple, Shea Cribben, Jim Tobin, Frankie McBride, Terry Mahon, Tony O’Leary and Gary.

They joined Mervyn Solomon (Emerald Records), Bill O’Donovan (RTÉ), John Coughlan (Spotlight), Tony Wilson (Evening Herald), Ken Stewart (Evening Press), and Jim Dunne (Sunday Mirror), who were the other jury members. Castlebar attracted them all from Acker Bilk to The Dubliners. The legendary Tyrone-born songwriter, Jimmy Kennedy, served as patron for some years. He penned some of the world classics like South Of The Border, Red Sails In The Sunset and The Isle of Capri.

Accolades poured in from all sides. Tom Gilmore of The Tuam Herald summed up the views of many: “Castlebar was a great contest. It would put our National Song Contest to shame.”

Country greats

Tony Stevens from Cork is a singer especially associated with the Castlebar Song Contest. The Cork man was born to sing in contests, a real professional when it came to delivering a song. Tony always had a soft spot for the Castlebar Contest and loved being part of it.

The late Teresa O’Donnell from Kildare (who wrote Ireland’s first Eurovision entry, Walking The Streets In The Rain, was a regular finalist too. She wrote some great songs and took the top prize on one occasion, along with the blind musician and singer from Wicklow, Joe Bollard.

Then there was Reg Tilsley, who was a native of England. A man with music in his veins, he too became part of the great annual event, which reached out to the nation in the days before SKY and satellite TV channels. His wonderfully melodic Summer Convertible became the theme music for the show.

The composer of the first winning song, Caisleán a Bharraigh, was Sheila Fawsitt-Stewart, mother of well-known TV presenter Duncan Stewart. Indeed, Duncan and family members were in Castlebar for the launch of Paddy’s book.

Renowned composer Brendan Graham has the honour of being the composer of the winning song in the last Castlebar Contest, in 1988. If I Should Ever Lose Your Love was performed by Linda Martin. Brendan honoured the launch of the book by performing a new composition on stage in the Linenhall Theatre in Castlebar.

The most personal memory I have of the Castlebar Song Contest is being a finalist in last song contest in 1988. I wrote the lyrics for a song called Alone In New York City, which Frank McCaffrey arranged.

Gold label

Mike Murphy made the journey down from Dublin to officially launch the book. He lauded Paddy for the tremendous research and effort he had put into compiling this remarkable book over several years.

Every single song that qualified for the finals from 1966 to 1988 is listed here, along with reflections and memories from so many writers, performers, and people intimately associated with the venture, including several folk from RTÉ.

Castlebar has still got the gold label when it comes to reputation and standards. It was the market leader attracting some of the top songwriters of the day from the UK, as well as many from the USA and mainland Europe and those here at home.

Ireland is hugely in need of a true song contest for songwriters. This could be the opportune time to make Castlebar great again.