Donal Ring – 50 Golden Years
by Peter Lombard
B&F February 2009
“It’s the Donal Ring Ceili Band!” were the words the MC of the night, Mr Tony Hegarty, used in opening the second half of a memorable night to mark the occasion of Donal Ring celebrating 50 years in showbiz. The Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork City was the venue for the occasion on the last Sunday of November, when two concerts of 700 seats were totally booked out well in advance. The opening tune by the band was The Girl I Left Behind Me, and the audience clapped and cheered with delight in hearing this unique sound that Donal has held during all these years. On stage were Donal Jnr, Michael (brother), and Aidan (grandson) all playing 5-row accordions, Breda on drums, Mary on bass/piano, singer Pat O’Riordan and, at the helm, Donal himself with his Shand Morino.
Donal’s love for the accordion came at a young age while hearing his late father, Jer, playing. For a few years Donal played with a local Ceili Band and, in 1958, decided to form his own band, whose first performance was in The Glen Hall, Cork. The line-up comprised Noel Crowley on piano accordion, Eamon Long on violin, Garry Crowley on piano, Florrie McCarthy on drums and Paddy Carey on saxophone.
It was not long before demand for his band would see them going nationwide and being booked for larger and larger events throughout Ireland.
As the years went on he was playing not only in Ireland, but also in Scotland, England and Holland. The band also did a tour in Canada. They had the honour in 1961 of winning the Hohner All Ireland Accordion Championship.
In 1968 Donal recorded his first LP. With his were his two brothers – Michael playing a 5-row Hohner (and who is still playing in the band) and Jerh on the bass – as well as the other members of the band. Since then Donal has made as many as 15 recordings down through the years. The band has made numerous TV appearances and can be heard regularly on the radio.
Donal was joined in the band by his own family members as the years went by. Mary was the first, playing bass/piano, followed by Dermot with 5-row accordion, Breda on drums and Donal Jnr with 5-row accordion. In recent years his grandson Aidan assists his grandfather on stage.
It is well known that Donal (who plays a 3-row Shand Morino) was a personal friend to Sir Jimmy Shand and his wife Anne. Jimmy composed a tune in honour of Donal’s wife Brydie known as Brydie Ring’s Polka. Jimmy traveled to Cork in 1979 to Donal’s 21st Anniversary Dance, where a large crowd attended.
Now, 29 years on, large crowds attended Donal’s 50th Anniversary. The concert was opened by Dermot’s family playing for the first half hour starting with the popular tune Whistling Rufus, followed by his wife Irene singing Cotton Fields. The band concluded with some waltzes, and lively numbers. The Cork Three Tenors were next to entertain us. Donal in his wisdom made sure that all at the concert were well pleased with the line-up. Donal Jnr with his 5-row and Terry McCarthy singing gave us a variety of entertainment. They were joined briefly by Gina and her husband Pat Walsh, well known in entertainment circles, for two songs. The first part of the concert concluded with The Attridge Dancers doing some figure dancing on stage.
When the second half was well on the way Pat Riordan sang City Lights, a well known Cork song, followed by a selection of marches and polkas. Mary sang a recently recorded song, Beautiful Isle of Somewhere, then came more clapping and tapping of feet with a selection of 6/8 tunes including Home Boys Home and finishing with Cock of the North.
A sculpture of Donal playing his accordion was presented to him at this point. Some more songs with Breda and Pat Riordan singing were well received.
Garry Cronin, a past member of the band, played the violin giving us The Morino Waltz and some reels.
Now the night was coming to a close, Breda introduced to the full house Donal’s wife Brydie, daughter Frances (the only one of the family that did not play in the band) and all the grandchildren.
Patrons from all parts of Ireland were thanked for attending and thanks went also to his friends from Scotland.
The night was concluded by us all singing Come to the Ceilidh, Now is the Hour and Good Luck, Good Health, God Blass You. True to form, Donal met as many patrons as he could as they left the theatre and he was inundated with good wishes.
Donal, thank you for the inspiration you gave us all to play our own accordions and here’s to many more years of the ‘Donal Ring Sound’.
Donal’s love for the accordion came at a young age while hearing his late father, Jer, playing. For a few years Donal played with a local Ceili Band and, in 1958, decided to form his own band, whose first performance was in The Glen Hall, Cork. The line-up comprised Noel Crowley on piano accordion, Eamon Long on violin, Garry Crowley on piano, Florrie McCarthy on drums and Paddy Carey on saxophone.
It was not long before demand for his band would see them going nationwide and being booked for larger and larger events throughout Ireland.
As the years went on he was playing not only in Ireland, but also in Scotland, England and Holland. The band also did a tour in Canada. They had the honour in 1961 of winning the Hohner All Ireland Accordion Championship.
In 1968 Donal recorded his first LP. With his were his two brothers – Michael playing a 5-row Hohner (and who is still playing in the band) and Jerh on the bass – as well as the other members of the band. Since then Donal has made as many as 15 recordings down through the years. The band has made numerous TV appearances and can be heard regularly on the radio.
Donal was joined in the band by his own family members as the years went by. Mary was the first, playing bass/piano, followed by Dermot with 5-row accordion, Breda on drums and Donal Jnr with 5-row accordion. In recent years his grandson Aidan assists his grandfather on stage.
It is well known that Donal (who plays a 3-row Shand Morino) was a personal friend to Sir Jimmy Shand and his wife Anne. Jimmy composed a tune in honour of Donal’s wife Brydie known as Brydie Ring’s Polka. Jimmy traveled to Cork in 1979 to Donal’s 21st Anniversary Dance, where a large crowd attended.
Now, 29 years on, large crowds attended Donal’s 50th Anniversary. The concert was opened by Dermot’s family playing for the first half hour starting with the popular tune Whistling Rufus, followed by his wife Irene singing Cotton Fields. The band concluded with some waltzes, and lively numbers. The Cork Three Tenors were next to entertain us. Donal in his wisdom made sure that all at the concert were well pleased with the line-up. Donal Jnr with his 5-row and Terry McCarthy singing gave us a variety of entertainment. They were joined briefly by Gina and her husband Pat Walsh, well known in entertainment circles, for two songs. The first part of the concert concluded with The Attridge Dancers doing some figure dancing on stage.
When the second half was well on the way Pat Riordan sang City Lights, a well known Cork song, followed by a selection of marches and polkas. Mary sang a recently recorded song, Beautiful Isle of Somewhere, then came more clapping and tapping of feet with a selection of 6/8 tunes including Home Boys Home and finishing with Cock of the North.
A sculpture of Donal playing his accordion was presented to him at this point. Some more songs with Breda and Pat Riordan singing were well received.
Garry Cronin, a past member of the band, played the violin giving us The Morino Waltz and some reels.
Now the night was coming to a close, Breda introduced to the full house Donal’s wife Brydie, daughter Frances (the only one of the family that did not play in the band) and all the grandchildren.
Patrons from all parts of Ireland were thanked for attending and thanks went also to his friends from Scotland.
The night was concluded by us all singing Come to the Ceilidh, Now is the Hour and Good Luck, Good Health, God Blass You. True to form, Donal met as many patrons as he could as they left the theatre and he was inundated with good wishes.
Donal, thank you for the inspiration you gave us all to play our own accordions and here’s to many more years of the ‘Donal Ring Sound’.