Happy memories of val doonicans time in castlebar

NEWS of the death today of Irish singer and TV entertainer Val Doonican (88) evoked particular sorrow in Mayo’s county town of Castlebar.

The late Mr. Doonican began his musical career in Castlebar in the early 1950s with the famous Stephen Garvey Band. During his time in the town, he lived at McHale Road in a house owned by Pete Coyle.

He was extended a civic reception by Castlebar Town Council some years ago in recognition of his achievements in the entertainment world.

Johnny Mee, a former mayor of the authority, said: 'On the night of the reception, he renewed his friendship with Joe Chambers, who performed with him in the Stephen Garvey Band as a vocalist. Val was very grateful for the honour given to him and I always regarded him as a real gentleman. God rest his soul. Deepest sympathy is tendered to his family.'

Amongst his other colleagues on the band were Willie Keane, McHale Road (trumpeter), Danny McCormack, Rush Street (drummer), Tommy O’Brien, a native of Cork (saxaphone), and Ger Wolfe, a native of Germany (saxaphone).    

Mr. Doonican died peacefully at a nursing home in Buckinghamshire. The performer was a regular fixture on TV with The Val Doonican show which ran on the BBC from 1965 to 1986, featuring his own performances and guest artists.

He was also rarely out of the UK charts in the 1960s and ‘70s with songs like Walk Tall and Elusive Butterfly.

In the album chart, he had five successive top 10 records and even knocked The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band off the top spot in 1967 with Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently.