Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Frankie McBride
This week marks the 100th Episode of Sweet Omagh Town and to celebrate we have a very special interview with one of Omagh’s finest….
Frankie McBride.
He tells us of his start in the Family Business as a painter and how he choose to make a life in Music instead. Frankie talks about his start in Show Business in the Pantos where he caught the performing bug and the early days of the Polka dots. We hear some great behind the scenes stories of a career in the Music Industry. From Omagh to London Frankie recorded and performed all over. A great conversation which we hope you enjoy listening to as much as we did recording it.
Today’s Sweet Omagh Town Episode can be found on our Facebook & YouTube sites – simply search for ‘Sweet Omagh Town Internet Radio.’ Our entire back catalogue of interviews is also there to listen to for free – so please like, subscribe, share and enjoy!
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Ray Moore
In this week’s episode of Sweet Omagh Town Don & Declan talk to Ray Moore about his life in Music. He discusses his family’s musical roots and his early musical influences. Ray tells us of his start in St. Eugene’s Band and goes on to discuss his time in the Showbands playing in bands such as ‘The Melody Boys’ and ‘The Plattermen.’ A great conversation with a real Music Maestro.
Today’s Sweet Omagh Town Episode can be found on our Facebook & YouTube sites – simply search for ‘Sweet Omagh Town Internet Radio.’ Our entire back catalogue of interviews is also there to listen to for free – so please like, subscribe, share and enjoy!
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Damien Given
In this week’s episode of Sweet Omagh Town Don & Declan talk to Damien Given about his life in Music. He discusses his beginnings in St. Eugene’s Band at the young age of 11 as a result of passing the 11+ and his family’s musical roots. He goes on to discuss his time in the Showbands playing in bands such as ‘The Powermen’, ‘Derek & the Sounds’ as well as ‘American Pie’.
He talks about some of his favourite albums and the importance of records such as ‘Sargent Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band’ were to the Music Industry as a whole. Outside of music Damien tells us of some of his other interests such as Photography and Philosophy. A great conversation with a real Music Connoisseur.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Tom Sweeney Interviewing Kieran McGlinn
In this week’s Sweet Omagh Town our good friend Tom Sweeney speaks to Kieran McGlinn about the life, music and poetry of his grandfather Felix Kearney. Kieran has recorded an album of songs written by Felix and we will be hearing extracts from the album as well as the background to recording them. Kieran also tells us about his start in music and his family’s musical roots. A great album and a great conversation with Tom & Kieran.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Frank Galligan interviewing Brian D'Arcy
As part of the Omagh Music Festival 2022, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council have commissioned a special series of interviews delving into Omagh's rich history of musical talent focusing on the Showbands.
In this special episode Frank Galligan talks to Fr Brian D'Arcy about his early days going to school in Omagh where he stayed with his Aunt in Goerge's Street across from the INF where his love of the Showbands began. They discuss the origins of the Showband industry with the likes of the Clipper Carlton, Brendan Bowyer, Brian Coll and our very own Plattermen. In Fr Brian's own words Omagh has a musical trail only rivaled by Nashville and how the Showband industry owes so much to St. Eugene's Band and to Omagh.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Paddy Hunter interviewing Shay Turbett
As part of the Omagh Music Festival 2022, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council have commissioned a special series of interviews delving into Omagh's rich history of musical talent focusing on the Showbands.
In this special episode Paddy Hunter speaks to Shay Turbett about his time growing up on Gallows Hill and joining St Eugene's Band at such a young age. He goes on to discuss his time with the Venture's Showband and his life in music. Shay chats about the wealth of musical talent which came out of the old Labour Hall and St. Eugene's band who he has played with since he was 8 years old.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Gerarda McCann interviewing Margaret Mitchell & Heather Patterson
As part of the Omagh Music Festival 2022, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council have commissioned a special series of interviews delving into Omagh's rich history of musical talent focusing on the Showbands.
In this special episode Gerarda McCann speaks to Margaret Mitchell & Heather Patterson about their association with the Omagh Music Society. Both Margaret & Heather, along with Gerarda's Mum were founder members of the Society and they discuss some of the shows and performances they have been involved with through the years. A great interview and some great memories.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Frank Chisum
As part of the Omagh Music Festival 2022, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council have commissioned a special series of interviews delving into Omagh's rich history of musical talent focusing on the Showbands.
In this special episode Don & Declan talk to Frank Chisum about his life in music, starting from his early days in the Royal Showband and his journey through to being the premier Elvis impersonator. He speaks about his early days in the band and shares some showbiz stories with us. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did recording it. Fell free to like and share.
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Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Don & Declan interviewing St Eugene's Band
As part of the Omagh Music Festival 2022, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council have commissioned a special series of interviews delving into Omagh's rich history of musical talent focusing on the Showbands.
In this special episode of Sweet Omagh Town Don & Declan pay a visit to the old Culmore School to eavesdrop on a St Eugene's band practice. We speak to some of the band members about how they got involved with the band and what it means to the musician's who got their start there.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Pat Chesters
Pat Chesters…from the ‘Hill to ‘Vegas!
When the history of that uniquely Irish phenomenon, the Showbands, is finally written the town of Omagh shall occupy a special place. Cultural, historical, and economic circumstances melded together, with a dose of pure chance, to create the opportunities that led to that golden musical era in the 1960s and 70s.
The premier band was, of course, The Plattermen and in this week’s Sweet Omagh Town we are privileged to have a conversation with Pat Chesters. Pat is a music man through and through, and he recalls his family’s long-standing association with Saint Eugene’s Band; a great grounding that led ultimately to the stage and the Brass section of The Plattermen. With typical Gallows Hill humour Pat talks about the very early days as he and his band mates travelled by McSorley’s taxi to gigs with amplification hired from Gussie Hynes.
Pat talks about the reality of performing in the glittering casinos of Las Vegas, a far cry from the grey streets of Omagh, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Telly Savalas.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Leo Doran
Leo Doran … a cut above
Leo Doran’s family home in Omagh housed two generations which followed the barbering profession. In this week’s Sweet Omagh Town, Leo reminisces about his father as he recalls the days of the cut-throat razor and the changes that have taken place since H. A. Doran’s Hairdressing Saloon served both male and female clients and also trained aspiring barbers.
Leo, of course, is very well known as a musician. He ‘earned his chops’ with Saint Eugene’s Band and played in the Brass section of a number of bands, notably The Melody Boys, The Platters, The Plattermen and The Tall Men.
Leo took over the Barber Shop and for many years it welcomed its loyal customers. The car that carried the bomb which devastated Omagh in 1998 was parked opposite his premises; and, in the interview, Leo talks movingly about the twist of fate that undoubtedly saved lives.
After the Omagh Bomb, Leo relocated to John Street and continued barbering there until he retired in 2006.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Walter Maguire
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. These lines could describe our guest Walter Maguire’s reflections as the takes us though his childhood memories as a pupil at the Convent Primary and then the Christian Brothers Grammar in Omagh during the 1950s and 1960s. Our thanks to Mark McGrath for his assistance with photographs.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: St Enda's (Jackie Martin & Seamus McCusker)
For those of you who listen regularly to our podcast you will be in no doubt that Omagh and its environs have produced more than its fair share of musical talent. Thanks to the vision of Omagh’s St Enda's GAA club under the great leadership of men like the late Jackie Martin, Declan O’Neill, Michael Brogan, Jim Gormley and too many others to name, who by their vision and forward thinking provided our small town with a venue that became known, admired and envied the length and breadth of Ireland
In this episode we start with an interview with Jackie Martin recorded before his death regarding his plans to build a hotel on the site. Then we speak to Seamus McCusker about his involvement with St Enda's and also his time managing the late Brian Coll. Finally we hear some tributes about Jackie from firstly Declan O'Neill and then from one of Jackie's favorite bands, Joanna & Tequila Sunrise.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: The Royal Arms Hotel II
An Open ‘Arms Welcome
This week’s Sweet Omagh Town takes a trip down memory lane in the company of Dai and Elaine Waterson and Pat Chesters as they chat about the Royal Arms Hotel.
Affectionately known as the ‘Arms, it was more than an hotel; it was a convivial meeting place where all were welcomed into a warm, family atmosphere. The broadcast, an interview recorded around fourteen years ago, begins with a recording of Tommy Clarke talking about his work in the Royal Arms followed by Mr. and Mrs. Waterson describing their early days as proprietors of the hotel. Pat Chesters remembers the Arms with great fondness as he recalls his time with the Plattermen and gives a great insight into the evolution of the band.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Brian Coll & Pat Chesters
Brian Coll Tribute on Sweet Omagh Town
The death of Brian Coll last November was a great shock not only to the people of Omagh but also to his legion of fans across Ireland and much further afield. Brian Coll was a trailblazing singer who was proud of his roots. He was a gifted raconteur who made time for people.
Brian would have been eighty this month and to acknowledge that and to pay tribute this week’s Sweet Omagh Town will feature an interview with him and Pat Chesters. In this chat, recorded about twelve years ago, they talk about growing up in Omagh and their early musical careers, recalling friends and acquaintances. It is an eavesdrop as two friends reminisce.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Marcus Pickett
On today's episode we take you on a journey back to an Omagh of around 1910. Dr Haldane Mitchell and Marcus Pickett discuss the local traders, merchants and individuals who resided from Campsie to John Street.
As you would expect while many of the businesses have changed and the shop facades modernized, you will be amused by how little the buildings themselves have actually changed and many of the family names mentioned by Marcus are still known to us today. So please sit back and enjoy as two of Omagh's gentlemen reminisce of an era we can only imagine.
Please feel free to like and share these interviews so as many people as possible get an opportunity to listen.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: An Evening at the Weigh Inn
This week’s Sweet Omagh Town features an edited version of a radio broadcast recorded in the Weigh Inn.
The Weigh Inn is one of the premier music venues in the town and on this occasion the Knotty Pine String Band, Tom Sweeney and Declan Forde provide the music while Michael Donnelly, Leo Doran, Pat Chesters, Ray Moore, Eamon Daly and Elaine Waterson provide the chat and reminiscence along with Jim Corr, Ivy Turner, Vena Jamison, Eamon Daly and Jude Collins. Also featured is the voice of the late, much missed Stephen Mc Kenna.
The programme, deftly handled by Colm Arbuckle, was a great celebration of the songs and stories of Omagh.
Sweet Omagh Town Presents: Omagh Railway Station
Hear the train a-coming……
This week’s Sweet Omagh Town takes us back to those halcyon GNR days. This programme features three colleagues reminiscing about their working lives on the railways. Paddy McLoone, Alec Clarke and Jack Griffith pull back the curtain on the hidden life of the train station: the hierarchy that existed and the many roles that kept it operational twenty-four hours a day.
Also, on the programme there is a brief extract of Will McNamee from Sixmilecross describing his early days working on the railway.
Behind the humour lies their great pride in their time spent on the GNR. But Paddy, Alec and Jack were realists who are forensic in their analysis of the demise of the railways, in this programme.
Though one chapter closed and many more were written for these three gentlemen, their Sweet Omagh Town is an affectionate, good-humoured and honest look back through some coal-dusted and steam-stained pages of GNR history.
