Kanturk night for Hospitals

The annual dance in support of Millstreet and Kanturk Community Hospitals will be held at the Edel Quinn Hall in Kanturk on Friday night, 13 October. The night will also see the launch of a DVD featuring highlights from last year’s dance.

Music on the night will be provided by the Noel Cronin Band, Michael and Heather Sound, Sheila and Mike and Heart to Heart Band, Mike Condon, and Denis Christy and Marina. Guest performers include Noreen Ashe and Norah Hickey. The compere for the show is Benny Tade McCarthy from West Limerick Radio. Dancing is from 9pm to 1am and admission is €10. All support for this worthy cause will be welcome and further details can be had from John Joe Herlihy at 087-9735113.

Pat is guest in Leitrim

The former lead singer with the Smokey Mountains Ramblers and The Rocky Tops, Pat Ely, will perform a guest spot at a fundraising concert in the Bee Park Centre in Manorhamilton on Saturday, 7 October.

Pat was associated with the early days of the country music boom in Ireland and the band did guest appearances at the American Air Force, based in Germany then. The concert, in support of Diffreen NS in Co Leitrim, also features PJ Murrihy and Seamus Shannon, who return by popular demand following their acclaimed performance last year. Admission is €15, concert starts at 8pm.

Donegal flood dance

A dance in support of the recent victims of the Donegal flood on the Inishowen peninsula will be held at the Strand Hotel, Ballyliffen, on Wednesday, 18 October. The show starts at 9pm and admission is €15.

The headline act will be Margo, but the night will also feature Mick Flavin, John Hogan, Shunie Crampsey, Patsy Cavanagh, Hugh P and Maria Doherty, Albert Cunningham, McCarron and Porter, Liam McDermott, the Cavanagh Brothers, Damien McDaid, John Jack and the Ryan Turner Band.

to Galtymore

A new book taking a close look at stories from Ireland’s Showband era from the 1950s to the 1970s will be launched at Dubray Bookshop, Grafton Street, Dublin, on Thursday, 5 October, at 6pm. Aonghus McAnally from RTÉ will preside at the ceremony.

The book is co-edited by Dr Joe Kearney and PJ Cunningham, and is the work of many long hours of research. The catchy title is a sure-fire winner and, like The Hucklebuck, makes an immediate connection with that special vibe on the music circuit. The book will be on general release around the country in the coming days.

Moonlight in Mayo

Moonlight in Mayo is the new album from Pat Friel. The Westport man has been synonymous with the music scene in the province over the decades. Pat fronted the popular Heather Breeze Céilí Band for many years and they did shows all around the west of Ireland and further afield, including gigs in England. There are 14 tracks on the album, comprising of songs, waltzes, quicksteps, reels, jigs and hornpipes. Some of the numbers are a compilation from albums over the years, with a few new ones added to this collection.

A launch night will be held at Carrowkennedy Community Centre near Westport on Friday night, 6 October, where Pat and his friends will deliver a top-class show, as always. Their guest on the night will be Annmarie O’Riordan, who will make the journey from Cork for this special night.

Donegal musician dies

Charlie Cannon from Donegal, who died last week, was a popular and much-loved musician in his home county. Born in Kilcar, he spent most of his life in Donegal town. He was a brother of Tony Cannon, who lives in Emyvale, Co Monaghan, and who was a member of Gene Stuart’s band, The Homesteaders, for many years.

Charlie played various instruments including guitar, saxophone, bag-pipes, clarinet, accordion and the tin whistle. He also featured with various bands, but was mostly association with Jack Ramsey and The Travelling Folk, who enjoyed huge popularity around Donegal and neighbouring counties and also toured in England and Scotland.

He is survived by his wife, Maureen, sons Brian, Barry, Michael and Peter, daughters Brenda, Paula and Lisa, by his brothers John, Mickey, Tony, Eamon, Columba and Eighneachain, sisters Maeve and Mary B, relatives and friends. CL