The Red 7 Showband
Photo taken on New Years Eve 1962.
L-L Pat Tyrell, Joe Weadick, Jim Tyrell, Georgie Byrne,
Eddie Mack,Mick Tyrell, Liam O, Reilly, and Freddie Cutland
They later became The Columbia Showband

These Photos courtesy of Liam O,Reilly Collection

The Red 7 Showband   Arklow
  The town of Arklow, Co Wicklow has a rich maritime heritage, as we witnessed many times
here in Letterkenny, when the Tyrell family,s schooners and motorships called at Port Ballyraine.
The surname Tyrell is fairly common in that part of Ireland, and it was also to be found in
Showband circles, especially in this weeks subject, the Red 7 Showband from Arklow.

    The band was formed in 1959, a time when the showband scene was beginning to unfold and was made up of local musicians,Peter Coburn , Des Mulhall, Larry Kenny, Paud O, Brien, Joe Weadick, Pat Tyrell and Eamonn Lee. Attired in red jackets, white slacks, and with a red 7 on a white background breast pocket on their jackets , their stage appearance was immaculate, and so was their ability. Playing a mixture of pop, country , rock and roll and the general run of the mill “showband fayre” of that era , they soon established themselves as a popular local attraction. This was well rewarded with a three year residency in the Tara Ballroom, Courtown Harbour, where they proved popular with dancers there. Their manager and vocalist Pete Coburn made sure that the diary was well filled with dates , and for a semi-pro. Showband they found themselves playing as far north as Mayo and into parts of Donegal.

  Over the early years there were a few personnel changes, with Jim Tyrell replacing Larry Kenny on trumpet, Georgie Byrne in for Des Mulhall on drums, Eddie Mc Elheron replaced Pete Coburn on vocals,, Pat Tyrell replaced Paud O, Brien, and after Eamonn Lee departed, Mick Tyrell joined on bass and Liam O. Reilly  came in on rhythm guitar and vocals. Stiil concentrating on the home circuit, the band played a two band show with well known country female singer . Maisie Mc Daniel and the Fendermen., in the Mayfair Ballroom Kilkenny. And also on a couple of occasions shared the stage with Derry,s Magnificent Seven, (Strange coincidence that both bands had eight members in their line up,s !) Well known impesarrio and manager of the Casino Showband, Liam Ryan, booked the lads to play a prestigious gig at the Palm Beach Ballroom ,Portmarnock. A week before, the lads were having the age old trouble with their band bus in Abbeyleix resulting in them having to get out and push ,  A car pulled up and the driver enquyired as to “whats the matter lads!”. It turned out to be none other than Liam Ryan , and he did,nt  know this was the band he had booked to play the following week.  No a very professional approach! , but nevertheless they played the gig and all was forgotten, and the good reputation of the Red 7 as a fine semi-pro band preserved.

   The band changed their name to the Columbia Showband and about 1963 decided to go full time professional,
A further story of the Columbia will follow at a later date., and my greatful thanks to
Liam O, Reilly for his help and photographs.

From the files of John Bairds collection
     bairdart@iol.ie

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