Throwback Thursday: My father doing Pana - but who is he with?

THROWBACK Thursday reader and Rory Gallagher fan Milo Carr has written with an interesting query.

“I came across an article from November 21, 1964, about Rory Gallagher and the Fontana Showband,” he says.

“In the article, there is mention of an agent of the Munster Television Corporation taping the Fontana Showband. Do you remember anything about what the Munster Television Corporation was exactly?

“When I Googled, I only came up with an old Biz Ireland entry, listing their location as the Arcadia Ballroom.”

Milo asks: “Did Prendergast record local bands there under that name? I think this would predate the London recordings that made the news a few years back, when Mr Leary got a hold of some memorabilia including tapes from the Prendergast estate.”

Milo says that Rory’s brother, Donal Gallagher, thinks the article is just referencing those London tapes that Prendergast helped secure, but, adds Milo: “I wonder if it’s something earlier.

“I’ve attached the newspaper clipping from 1964 as well as a screen grab of the Biz Ireland listing.

“Any additional info would be greatly appreciated,” adds Milo.

Meanwhile, Jack Lyons says he read with interest the enquiries made by Tom Jones, now living in Key West, Florida.

“Tom raised a couple of interesting questions. He had the pleasure and indeed culture shock of visiting his beloved Cork city recently and encountered friends and places he says he hadn’t seen in 50 years.

“He particularly raised the question in your Throwback Thursday as to the genesis of the old Cork beat clubs in the ’60s. Which came first, he enquired, the Cavern Club in Leitrim Street or the Crypt in MacCurtain Street?”

Jack continues: “Although I grew up in Shepherd’s Bush, West London, I can assure Tom that the Crypt came first.

Based at 58 MacCurtain Street (the basement of the old Garda Siochana station), the Crypt was really a basement youth club after its army occupants vacated the premises.

“The guy who ran it placed a coffin (empty, of course, and borrowed from Fordes!) in front of the tiny stage and the club was used by lots of local beat groups jamming rather than playing an authentic gig for punters.”

Tom Jones, says Jack, is obviously blessed with a brilliant memory.

“He can remember Rory Gallagher’s brother Donal, and Dean Falvey (also known as Dennis Falvey) from Blarney Street CBS. I have enclosed an Echo ad from my archives dated Friday, May 26, 1967, announcing the Cavern Club’s ‘Don and Deen’ playing records that night as two aspiring DJs.

Also in the ad is the heading: ‘In Answer to Members’ Increasing Requests : The Martelles (Be there to cheer).’

Jack says: “My brother Patrick (Pat Lyons), apart from drumming with The Gem and later the Lucey brothers’ band Dawn, was a roadie with the Martelles.

“My brother bears the distinction that on Sunday, September 17, 1967, he helped John Marsh, the Pink Floyd roadie / lights man (who had consumed several whiskeys, first in the KLM on the Lower Road and later Cunninghams/Handlebars) to set up the amps and speakers for the gig later at the Arcadia!

“He still proudly retains his letter from the late Chris Mahon, branch secretary of the Irish Federation of Musicians at 53, South Mall, informing him that he was hereby expelled from the musician’s union for unpaid arrears amounting to four pounds, ten shillings and sixpence.

They were great days. Come home again, Tom Jones - there’s magical music history in Cork!

Now those are great recollections, as everyone will agree; but Jack isn’t content with simply contributing from his own memory to these much-read Echo pages.

Upon reading about Joan McCarthy’s search last week for a much-valued photograph of her father on a Guinness dray, Jack straight away went down to the city library and worked right through past issues of Throwback Thursday in The Echo until he found that picture of a man on a horse-drawn dray loaded with barrels.

In that feature, on February 2, 2023, we noted that the picture had been sent in by a Ms McCarthy. Same name as Joan!

Perhaps the mystery and the search had been solved; hooray, thanks to Jack Lyons and his determination to track down the missing photograph.

Only - it wasn’t!

Now, what are the chances of two ladies called McCarthy having separate pictures of their respective fathers on horse-drawn carts in Patrick Street many years ago? One in a million, you might well say.

Well, that one in a million chance came up, more’s the pity. Joan was regretful, delighted to read the article, and very, very appreciative of Jack’s efforts on her behalf - but it wasn’t her father in the photo!

“You’re a true Agatha Christie, Jo, but unfortunately that’s not the photo,” said Joan. 

I read the article through, had tears in my eyes about the picture of the little twins and one of them died not long after.

She says she will never miss a Throwback Thursday in future!

Well, on we go. Jack Lyons, you get my gold medal of the week for your perseverance and general good nature, and I am seconded in that by Joan McCarthy, who is still hoping for a miracle. We will continue our search. And she generously contributed some pictures that she still possesses, adding: “I just thought I’d send you on these photos of my Dad when he was young. It might strike a chord with people, you’d never know.

“The first photo is of my Dad with his father, my Granda Mac (he always called him My Father when speaking of him, he revered him so much).

“The respect he had for him is both joyful and sad: joyful that such respect existed, sad that it no longer does! (well, at least I haven’t witnessed it in a long time).

“The photo was taken on Patrick’s Bridge, I wonder would anyone even recognise the man in the foreground?

“Everyone knew my Granda as Danny. He worked in Brooks & Haughton’s on the South Terrace . My dad was 14 in this photo, which is the age he was when he started in Guinness.

“I’m hoping that the other two photos may also stir some memories and hopefully someone may recognise some of my dad’s friends. The one with the three lads (my dad is on the left) was taken on Patrick Street, Cash’s (now Brown Thomas) can be seen in the background. The one with the four lads (my dad is second from right), was also taken on Patrick’s Bridge.

“What strikes me about all 3 photos is the very smart ‘dress code’,” adds Joan. 

Can you imagine a lad of 14 going around today, dressed in suit, tie and overcoat, perish the thought!

“I have lots more stories and memories of the good aul days, but for now, hopefully, these photos might lead to that precious one of my dad on the pony and trap when he worked as an office boy for Guinness.”

We are hopeful too, Joan, and in the meantime, thank-you for sharing those other precious images.

Come on, readers, do any of those people strike a chord in your memory? Do let us know if so. Joan is waiting!

Tom Jones, whose memories of a recent trip home to Cork we have featured, writes to say he enjoyed reading about them in The Echo.

“Just wanted to thank you for the shout out of the people and places I mentioned. On the mention of Marla, as expressed by your readers, ah yes, I remember it so well. I always thought it was called Moola, or later Play Doh. But then again, I suppose Mallow, Co Cork back then was pronounced as Malla.”

(PJ Coogan on Red FM would agree with you there, Tom. While a ‘posh’ teacher might call it Mowrla (with that elegant refinement of tone), he informed me, the general schoolchild’s rendering was more like ‘Mawla’. Isn’t that so, PJ?)

Tom recalls that the magical playstuff came in a flat, colourful cardboard box with a clear cellophane front that let you see its contents. “And, as so vividly described by everyone, it enriched their enjoyment of the simple things in life. I certainly agree with your readers that it provided hours on end of unlimited imagination.

“It also once more transported me back into a time of so many years ago. Which allows me to reflect on the second-hand comic book shops, of which there were quite a few on the Shandon Street of my era. There, one could buy a hopefully recent edition of the Beano, Dandy, Topper, Beezer, Hotspur, etc, for a penny. How many people remember the content which lay within?

The Beano contained such characters as The Bash Street Kids with Plug, and Wilfrid with his jumper pulled up to his nose. Plus, Roger the Dodger, Lord Snooty, Elastic Man, amongst others. Jack Flash with wings on his ankles, saving all from their dilemmas.

“The Dandy had Desperate Dan, who shaved his chin stubble with a blowtorch, and Snoop, Keyhole Kate amongst others.

“I believe the 4 Mary’s came from another publication which I don’t recall, was it Judy or Bunty, which catered for girls’ interests.

“The Hotspur, and The Victor later became favourites of mine as I grew up, since they contained more boys’ sports-orientated comic strips. And, of course, who does not recall Roy of the Rovers, was that in The Tiger?

“Now you could trade in the current edition of any of the above, if you were lucky enough to have had one, and bargain or barter for whatever you could get in trade.”

Tom also recalls the 64-pagers, which were smaller in size but, because of their extended content on one particular hero, went for tuppence or a thrupenny bit.

“This I know, as Kid Colt Outlaw was a particular favourite of mine, and that was a 64 pager. Later we progressed to the glossier, colourful American D.C. Comics with Superman, Batman, etc. And the Marvel Comics with Captain America, and other superheroes.”

Speaking of comic strips, Tom asks, do any of our readers recall Billy the Bee, and his friend Bumble, a stalwart of the Echo in the 1950s?

That comic strip, along with Mutt and Jeff (also in the Echo) was how I first learned to read.

“Also just wondering how many can recall Dan Dare, Space Pilot? I recall listening to the Adventures of Dan Dare on the radio in Shandon Street all these years ago. Maybe that’s why I am still a great fan of the old-time radio shows.”

Tom left Cork in 1967, “an Innisfallen child, on my way to Paddington Station, and beyond, but has never forgotten the city of his birth and the rich life it offered to a child”.

Keep those memories coming, Tom!

And the rest of you do likewise. Email jokerrigan1@gmail.com. Or leave a comment on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/echolivecork.