Brendan Bowyer

2022 - 8 - 3

Mass in Waterford remembers showband's Brendan Bowyer (RTE.ie)

A memorial mass has taken place in Co Waterford for Brendan Bowyer, the front man of the The Royal Showband.

"There was The Royal Showband in the Red Devils uniform, the like of which I'd never seen. "The mineral bar and the fella that asked you for the last dance, hoping that he had a car. They gave us freedom, happiness, joy, a different vision of life, a confidence in ourselves that we too could be part of this success." "Elvis Presley came alive that night. The sweaty ballrooms, the twirling skirt, the Hucklebuck shoes, the dances. Standing in awe as Brendan sang the old ballads.

Bowyer mourners urged to remember 'sweaty ballrooms' and ... (Irish Examiner)

Mourners at a memorial mass in Waterford City for showband legend, Brendan Bowyer were told that instead of listening to the chief celebrant, ...

“That is the big industry he started. “There were 600 fully professional bands in Ireland after the Royal Showband became the first professional band. He had a self-deprecating sense of humour. A man, a friend who will never be forgotten.” He never took himself seriously. The mineral bar and the fella who asked you for the last dance. He even ‘stole’ one of their songs. Keep at it.’ Six months later the Beatles were number one across the world." Why? Because of Brendan Bowyer and the show bands. He came to see them. The sweaty ballrooms, the skirts, the hucklebuck shoes, the dances. Standing in awe as Brendan sang the old ballads.

'A good friend and one of our heroes' – tributes as showband star ... (Independent.ie)

Waterford paid an emotional tribute to local hero and showband legend Brendan Bowyer as his ashes were buried in his beloved home county.

"But the restrictions were lifted on the day he passed. Why? Because of Brendan Bowyer and the show band." "And most of all he was a loving father, husband, grandfather, brother and entertainer. Covid restrictions were lifted on the day he passed. Such was the fame of the Royal Showband in the early 1960s that The Beatles – then an up-and-coming Liverpool band – opened for them at a UK gig. He was taken to hospital in Las Vegas but died following complications which saw him develop pneumonia. “We had been unable to visit him (in hospital) due to the Covid-19 restrictions," Clodagh added. "Standing in awe as Brendan sang the old ballads. "He had a self-deprecating sense of humour. So I know many of you have come long journeys with your head full of memories. "If he wanted one word writ large it would be appreciation. However, he had always wanted to be buried in his native Waterford.

More than 1000 mourners attend Waterford memorial of Irish ... (RSVP Live)

Brendan's wife Stella and three children Brendan Jnr, Aisling and Clodagh travelled to Ireland to fulfil his wish of having his ashes buried in the grave of ...

So it hear him actually signing out through the speakers was amazing. “It was a lovely celebration of his life. Speaking to RSVP Live, editor of RSVP country and singer Trudi Lawlor said the service was a moving celebration of Brendan’s life and the many people he touched.

Miriam Lord: Brendan Bowyer still sends them home sweatin' as ... (The Irish Times)

Ceremony to celebrate showbiz legend was not an occasion for dancing in the aisles, but he sent 'em home sweatin' anyway.

The mineral bar and the fellah that asked you for the last dance, hoping that he had a car.” Fr D’Arcy was a lifelong friend of Bowyer and chaplain to the band. He said he does a bit of singing himself and is known for his impersonations of the King. “Stay with them and thank God that you were lucky enough to live through the best era we ever had.” They gave us freedom, happiness, joy, a different vision of life, a confidence in ourselves that we too could be part of this success.” But remember and think of those performers, said Brian D’Arcy from the altar. He spent 15 years with the band before taking up a job in the insurance industry. We spent a lot of time visiting him in Las Vegas and he and the family were so generous with their time. Later on, his daughter Aisling toured with Tony in the States.” There was so much to celebrate about Brendan’s musical and family life, he said, but his loss is keenly felt by the loved ones he left behind and an adoring fanbase. But there were a few old-stagers still up for the gig. “Ach, I think this might be my last one,” sighed Fr D’Arcy before the memorial service.

Showband king who helped The Beatles Brendan Bowyer finally ... (The Irish Sun)

SHOWBAND legend Brendan Bowyer once famously 'Sent Them Home Sweatin'.But it was the singer himself who finally came home yesterday with a funeral.

It’s the story of Adam and Eve.” Brendan previously told this journalist: “We were top of our game then. After his death, Brendan became embroiled in self-pity and addicted to drink. But he had the wisdom and the family to overcome his addition. This had been his last wish, along with a funeral service in Waterford Cathedral, which was attended yesterday by hundreds of fans. Within a few years they had spawned hundreds of other groups.