Kingdom Showband Feature ()
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
(Our thanks to Eileen Harkin for her help with
info about the band)
The
Kingdom Showband were founded in 1961 and
managed by the late Maurice (Mossie) Burke. The Kingdom
spent two seasons as the resident band at the Hydro Hotel Kilkee for
two seasons and two more seasons at Horans Ballroom, Ballybunion.
From Tralee, Mossie emigrated to London in the 60's and
continued to play the ballrooms and dance ahlls across Ireland
and the UK. Many members of the band over the years we Irish
lads living in London.
Early band members together with
Mossie Burke were Jimmy Geary (who also played with the
Southlanders), John "Sean" Redahan,
Oliver Merrigan, Eddie Greene, Kenny Kent, Frankie Quinn, John
Lehane and Bill O'Dowd. Heading into the
1970's other members with Dad were Don Cotter (formerly with the
Kevin Flynn Showband), Pearse Fletcher, Frank McCrory and Eddie
Cummins (the only ever non-Irish band member, coming
from Glasgow).
There is only one vinyl recording of
The Kingdom Showband, a double sided single called "Once a Day"
and "Since Your Heart Wants To Be Free". The recording of a
live album at The Wellington in Shepherd's Bush was mooted, but
never transpired.
Mossie Burke also had a connection
with The Vanguard Six from Tralee, as he managed them for a
while. I notice a great picture of them on the website, but can
only name one of the faces as being Brendan O'Carroll, who is
still a family friend.
My Dad disbanded The Kingdom in the
mid-seventies, when he moved back to live in Tralee. He was a
well-known publican, owning The Brogue Inn and famously started
up what was then the illegal pirate station Radio Kerry! It was
broadcast from a mobile home parked in Castlegregory!
More to come...
click on thumbnails for full image
