Showband stars in Late Late special tribute to Joe

SHOWBAND legends hope to pay tribute to Joe Dolan during a Late Late Show special next week.

Stars from the showband era were lined up several weeks ago to perform during the show devoted to their music.

But last night, former Dixies star Brendan O’Brien said it would be tinged with sadness following Mr Dolan’s death on St Stephen’s Day.

He is due to perform alongside his former Dixies co-star Joe McCarthy. He said he hoped the show’s format would allow for a tribute to Joe Dolan, a close friend of his for 45 years.

“We don’t know the exact format yet but I would be delighted if there could be some form of tribute to Joe,” he said.

Mr O’Brien, who still performs and will attend tomorrow’s funeral, said he cried when he learnt of Joe’s death.

“He was a great, great guy. It’s like losing a family member. We’ve been friends since the early days.

“I remember the Dixies playing Carnegie Hall in 1964 and we got a telegram saying ‘Good luck from Joe Dolan’. He was such a lovely guy. He was much loved by everyone,” he said.

He said Joe could “walk with kings” but never lost the common touch.

“He could have left Ireland and made millions, but he loved Ireland and chose to stay here,” he said.

Mr O’Brien’s fellow Dixies star Joe McCarthy, who also still performs, described the singer as a “real troubadour”. “No one will ever replace him,” he said.

It was particularly pleasing, he said, that Joe and the Drifters were commemorated with one of 20 star-shaped plaques on Cork’s Walk of Fame, which was unveiled outside the site of the former Arcadia Ballroom earlier this month.

Joe’s brother Ben represented the band and spoke to Joe by phone during the ceremony.

The Dixies was formed in 1954 and went professional in 1961.

Joe made his first record, The Answer to Everything, with the Drifters, in 1964.

He got his international break in 1969 with the smash hit single, Make Me An Island, which went to No 1 in 14 countries.

He is the only artist to ever have six consecutive No 1 hits in South Africa.

He was still performing sell-out gigs around the country until illness forced the cancellation of his Christmas tour about three weeks ago. “He loved the music so much,” Joe MacCarthy said. “He was a bit like myself, he found it hard to give up.

“We’d often meet up around the country and have a few jars and a bit of craic. He was a fun-loving guy. He’ll be sadly missed.”

Fine Gael Longford Westmeath TD James Bannon, also said Mr Dolan would be sorely missed.

“He was very faithful to the community here, choosing to run his businesses from here and residing in the area of his upbringing.

“Joe’s greatest passions were for music and country life and he always found time to give to others.

“He did some excellent work for charities and, as will be repeated across the region, Joe will be sadly missed but not forgotten,” said Mr Bannon.

Joe Dolan’s family and management said they have been overwhelmed with expressions of sympathy and support, and they appealed for privacy.