Buddy breaks silence in remarkable comeback

A MUSICIAN abandoned his guitar 10 years ago with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease returns to the stage tonight following a remarkable battle to revive his talents.

Buddy Dalton’s journey back to music came about from a chance meeting earlier this year with therapist Jacqui Mangan. Buddy lives in Askeaton with his wife, Noelle, son Mike, daughter Yvonne and granddaughter Amy. In the heyday of the showbands, he was a bass guitarist with the Capitol showband. He later joined the Paddy Cole Superstars with artists such as Twink.

In 1997, Buddy’s life was thrown into turmoil with the onset of Alzheimer’s at the age of 53.

As his condition deteriorated, Buddy rarely moved outside the family home at Plunkett Road. However, the opening of the Abbott Close nursing home in Askeaton earlier this year unlocked the isolation which had smothered Buddy’s life.

Noelle said: “The owner of the nursing home, Denis McElligott, issued an invitation to local people to join in a weekly arts therapy session run by Jacqui Mangan.”

In a short time, up to 25 people most with Alzheimer’s began to meet for Jacqui’s sessions.

“When Buddy walked into the group one day, she recognised him from 20 years earlier when she followed the showband scene.”

On that first day Buddy couldn’t even hold a guitar. But with perseverance and Jacqui’s skills and encouragement, Buddy began to relearn to play and sing.

Noelle said: “It gave him a lifeline and it gave me a lifeline. I am finding it much easier now to care for him. If he is agitated, I start singing or get a CD going. It is amazing how it lifts us both.”

Tonight, hundreds will gather at the Shannon Arms in Askeaton to welcome Buddy Dalton back on stage for a special tribute evening.

As a thank you, Noelle is donating money from tonight’s concert to develop a multi-sensory garden at Abbott Close.

Buddy is due on stage at 9.30pm.