A set of stamps, including one of Waterford’s Royal Showband, has been unveiled by An Post to celebrate the golden era of the Showbands.
As well as the Royal, the set of four 82c stamps features The Miami, The Drifters and The Freshmen. During the height of the showband era it was estimated that over 700 bands were criss-crossing the country on a nightly basis.
“As these new stamps travel on letters and parcels throughout this island and abroad, they carry with them our pride, respect, fondness and admiration for the showband era as a whole and for all those individuals and groups who made it so very special”, said Barney Whelan, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs with An Post.
Designed by artist Steve Simpson and based on photography by Michael O’Reilly and Seán Magee, the Royal Showband stamp features, left to right, Charlie Matthews, Brendan Bowyer, Gerry Cullen, Michael Coppinger, Eddie Sullivan,
Jim Conlon and Tom Dunphy RIP.
The Royal Showband was formed in 1957 and within two years had turned professional. They enjoyed many successes and were the first Showband to release a single, ‘Come Down the Mountain Katy Daly’, featuring Tom Dunphy. They were the only Irish band to win the coveted Carl Alan Award in Britain and became the first Irish Showband to gain international appeal when they commenced a successful residency in Las Vegas. Apart from Brendan Bowyer’s numerous hit singles, releases from Tom Dunphy, Charlie Matthews and Jim Conlon also entered the Irish charts.
