All gigging musicians got a smile out of a recent encounter between a piano player/singer and an elderly American man in Killarney’s Park Hotel.Noel O’Sullivan was playing his usual set in the lounge when this elderly, bald man sitting at the bar came up to him several times to tell him about the background of the...
Author: John O Connor
‘Old Town Road’ souvenirs for sale
‘Old Town Road’ souvenirs for sale
Popular music fans will know that a song called ‘Old Town Road’ by the rapper, Lil Nas X, has broken all chart records in the United States and, at the time of writing, has been in the No 1 spot for 19 weeks, the first and only time in chart history that a single has dominated for so long. As a result, street signs...
Death of music ‘legend’ Jimmy Atkins
Death of music ‘legend’ Jimmy Atkins
Sad to report that Jimmy Atkins, once a very big name in popular music in Waterford and Kilkenny, passed to his eternal reward last week.For over five decades, but especially in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s, the Jimmy Atkins Band was one of the most sought after combos for weddings and dinner dances across a wide area...
What about a Waterford Walk of Fame?
What about a Waterford Walk of Fame?
Over the years many people have often felt that we in Waterford don’t really show enough appreciation for our high achievers. Of course, the significant and rarely given honour of Freedom of Waterford City has been bestowed on people like sports heroes John Treacy and Sean Kelly and entertainers Val Doonican, Brendan...
Long train running
Long train running
Travelling by train is generally a pleasure, especially when it’s not too crowded. In this country, our trains travel at a fairly sedate pace and, I guess, that adds to safety. In Britain, the trains are faster and even more so on some routes in Continental Europe. So, how would you feel about travelling in...
Looking at moon samples with fresh eyes
Looking at moon samples with fresh eyes
Sometimes in police cases, we hear about old evidence being reviewed using up to date profiling and DNA techniques.Well, NASA is about to do something similar with samples of rock brought back from the moon fifty years ago on the Apollo missions.Exhaustive studies were carried out on moon rocks and soil at the time...
City centre sculpture doesn’t grab tourists’ attention
City centre sculpture doesn’t grab tourists’ attention
Sitting in the sun in John Roberts Square recently, I overheard a couple discussing the black ‘Prow of a ship’ sculpture that faces down towards Barronstrand Street. They couldn’t figure it out and eventually concluded that it might be an obelisk or mausoleum to some long dead, famous person. Perhaps, a little sign...
Another Bowyer stars brightly
Another Bowyer stars brightly
Readers will be very familiar with the names of Brendan Bowyer and his daughter, Aisling, who, in between working as a tennis professional, toured with her famous Dad as a singer for many years.But currently in the spotlight is Brendan’s US actor daughter and businesswoman, Clodagh Bowyer, who is the producer and...
A holy mess in the Catholic Church
A holy mess in the Catholic Church
Only a totally disinterested person could be unaware of the challenges facing the Catholic Church at present, not least among them the severe lack of candidates for the priesthood and the growing number of empty pews on Sundays.However, many believe that the Church is still strong and solid beneath the surface and a...
Finally, a peaceful resting place for three little boys
Finally, a peaceful resting place for three little boys
In a poignant story, scientists have just confirmed that human bones washed up on a Canadian beach eight years ago were those of three children from Ireland who set sail from Sligo in March 1847 during the Famine years. The name of the ship was The Carrick and it was carrying 180 passengers when it sank off the coast...
Grace sails on to Europe
Grace sails on to Europe
Congratulations to Senator Grace O’Sullivan on taking the fourth seat in the Euro South Constituency. The first Waterford-based MEP, everybody in the city and county, regardless of political persuasion, is pleased for her. Congratulations also to her hard working team and especially to her Waterford-based campaign...
A spooky coincidence reveals the poignant past
A spooky coincidence reveals the poignant past
Recently, I was speaking to an old friend who told me a story about his late father who was a musician and the leader of an old style, sit-down orchestra that was very popular in the 1950s and early 1960s.While my friend’s father was still relatively a young man he took ill and died on stage during a gig at the...