Clefonaires Showband
The first ever showband in Sligo. In Tubbercurry, a group of young
lads decided to start a showband.
Along came Bernie Brennan, a nice fiddle player, who also played
Sax, and his brother,
Eddie, who had a flair for Drumming. Two other brothers, Peader
and Pierce Leonard,
had musical talents on the Guitar and the Cleftonaires were formed.
Carl Neilsen, a multi-talented man from Denmark, played trumpet,
bass and accordion and he was signed up.
Pauric Patten was a great mouth-organ player, who soon took up the
Clarinet and Sax with some style.
Sean Hunt filled in on Bass Guitar. Mickey Brennan Trombone. Sean
Maran played and Sax.
For a crooner, they chose the very talented man-about-town, the
late Tony Doyle.
Finally, after a great run of several years, they broke up.
Mickey Brennan went with Pauric Potter to
Jack Ruane’s Showband and Victor’s
Showband, in turn. Carl Neilsen,
Mickey and Pauric formed the band that is still playing, “The Jazz
Lads”.
That is the history of the Clefonaires Showband,
