Blarney Brothers celebrate 40 years of partying
Blarney Brothers celebrate four decades on the music scene at a special performance at Westville Country Club on Sunday 2 November.
THIS year marks a special jubilation for legendary Durban-based Irish group, Blarney Brothers, as they celebrate 40 years on stage.
The unflagging three-man musical outfit have been at the heart of South Africa’s music scene,livening up parties and gala events with their own special brand of music, including Irish ballads, catchy pub songs, popular ‘newies’ and the occasional Irish jig.
To mark this occasion, siblings Paul and Damien McIlroy and Tony Fisher will perform in a show titled, 40 Years of Partying, at the Rhumbelow Theatre’s new venue, Westville Country Club, on Sunday 2 November.
The trio joined forces to form their own professional band in August 1974, landing a six-month contract to perform six nights a week at Durban’s Astra Hotel in Russell Street. With a swiftly growing fan base, they moved on to the Pool Bar at the Lonsdale Hotel, then on to the Killarney Hotel. They then signed up as an entertainment act aboard a cruise ship, Oceanic Independent, heading for Cape Town in 1976, where they stayed on to perform at the Elizabeth Hotel, before signing on with the Holiday Inn Group. The Blarney Brothers then struck a deal with Southern Suns to appear on their national entertainment circuit, touring the country at regular intervals over a number of years.
Blarney Brothers leader Paul McIlroy recalls: “We came in for a lot of publicity when we were invited to perform on the same bill as Pat Boone and his daughter, Debbie Boone, during their South African tour. This was in 1977, the year Debbie Boone hit the big time globally with her rendering of You Light Up My Life.”
Shortly after this, the Blarney Brothers settled in Durban, taking up artistic residence at The Barn, the entertainment venue at the then Athlone Hotel, now the Riverside Hotel. This became closely linked with their brand at home, as for some 12 or 13 years the group appeared here every Wednesday and Friday, regularly pulling full houses.
A career highlight during the following decade was a commission to make the seven-part television documentary series, You Don’t Have To Be Irish. This saw the Blarney Brothers taking a month off to film in Ireland for SABC 3. The series was screened in South Africa in 1986 over six weeks.
Since the early 90s, the group have undertaken numerous international tours, performing at many world famous venues.
There will be two performances at their celebratory show on Sunday 2 November, at 2.30pm and 7pm. The venues opens 90 minutes before show. Tickets cost R120 each. Pensioners pay R100 each. Tickets can be purchased at Computicket or contact Roland on 082 499 8636, e-mail: roland@stansell.za.net or online at www.rhumbelow.za.net
There is a food and cash bar. The minimum meal option is R50. Booking is essential.
