Music fans pay last respects to Joe Dolan

Thousands of music fans today queued to pay their final respects to showband singer Joe Dolan, who died on St Stephen’s Day.

The body of the 68-year-old, whose career spanned almost 45 years, reposed at Gilsenan’s funeral home in his native Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

The removal was due to take place this evening to the Cathedral of Christ the King, with his funeral scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Dolan fell ill on Christmas Day.

The singer’s management team said he had been with his family in Dublin when he was rushed to the Mater Private Hospital where he died at around 3pm the following day.

He died from a suspected brain haemorrhage.

Dolan suffered an illness in the autumn and was forced to cancel tours on the advice of doctors due to exhaustion.

He was born in Mullingar, and his first job was with the local newspaper, the Westmeath Examiner, but after completing his apprenticeship he let his passion for music take over.

A string of hits followed in the showband era of the 1960s and ’70s as he entertained fans across Europe and as far afield as Argentina and Brazil.

Dolan also earned fame for being the first western pop singer to play in Moscow at the height of the Cold War in 1978.

His biggest hit, 'Make Me An Island', went as high as number three in the UK chart in 1969, and reached number one in 14 other countries.

The song 'Such A Good Looking Woman' remained a regular feature on radio plugging his gigs until his recent illness.

The funeral Mass will take place at 11am tomorrow and he will be buried in Walshetown Cemetery afterwards.