A golden voice of national broadcasting and showband aficionado and performer will get this year’s Scariff Harbour Festival under way on the lead up to the August Bank Holiday week-end.
In a special performance in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Ronan Collins will bring nostalgia and warm memories to his many followers and local audience, with his strong stage presence and relaxed style.
‘In the 70s, I have many good memories of being in Clare – particulalrly in Kilkee, Kiilrush & Sixmilebridge. In those days, we played a lot of holiday venues, carnivals, marquees and of course in the many ballrooms around the country,’ said Ronan Collins, the man who maintained one of the longest running successful radio shows on RTE. ‘I’m very much looking forward to performing in Scariff Church on this occasion. In such an intimate setting, it’s less frenetic and a wonderful opportunity to connect with people,’he said.
He was drawn to live music bands at the height of the Irish showband era of Dickie Rock, Brendan Bowyer, Joe Dolan & others. Showbands were cover bands for popular hits of the time and drew a massive following up and down the country. Showband music was dance music then. The bands had a rhythm and brass section and all centred around a lead singer who sang a mix of blended genres
Joined in Scariff by Karen Black & the Sugarcubes, they will relive the days of the ballroom with songs, stories and memories. They have toured successfully the length and breadth of the country in 2024 and Harry O’Meara, Co-founder of Scariff Harbour Festival expressed his delight that Ronan Collins with his ‘Showbands Hits & Stories’ can be part of this year’s festival line-up. ‘We know already that it’s a hugely popular show so please book in advance. It is the only paid music event throughout the festival,’ he said.
Meanwhile, The Fureys headline the free street music events. The ever-popular, middle of the road folk and traditional band took to the musical road almost fifty years ago when brothers Eddie & Finbar came under the influence of the great folk revival in Scotland. As early as 1969, they got a taste for touring when they were special guests of the Clancy brothers and performed throughout the USA & Canada.
Back home the other Furey brothers George & Paul were soon to link up with Davey Arthur and formed the band called The Buskers. A road accident, while Eddie & Finbar were touring in Germany, changed the future course of the bands. A visit to Germany by The Buskers to check out the crash victims was the start of the Furey Brothers and Davey Arthur.
The Fureys tell stories through songs and their unique voices mark them apart. Never afraid to experiment, they struck up unlikely sessions with American R&B band Kool & the Gang. Their classic hits, however, have stood the test of time and can be heard in any corner of the world. The Red Rose Café, When You Were Sweet Sixteen, The Green Fields of France, From Clare to Here, Leaving Nancy and others will resound through the hills around Scariff over the upcoming bank holiday week-end.
Scariff Harbour Festival 2025 runs from Thursday 31st July – Sunday 3rd August Other musical events include: Mac Fleetwood, a tribute group to Fleetwood Mac; The Tulla Céili Band, and Sin a Deir Sí, a dynamic collective of trad musicians. The Grogan Brothers celebrate 50 years of music, while Ger Starr, and the Thirsty Crows will also perform during the festival
(Tickets for Ronan Collins are available from O’Meara’s Totalhealth Pharmacy, Scariff (061-921028) or on line from www.scariffharbourfestival.ie Early booking is advisable)
Previous Coverage:
Relive Scariff’s rich past through stories of people and place – 01/07/25
GAA President to attend Harbour Festival & Scariff GAA Celebrations – 29/06/25