(Paul
McIlroy, Tony Fisher & Damien McIlroy)
Party
with The Blarney Brothers, the Durban-based Irish
group, will take place at St Cyprian’s Church Hall, the temporary home of the
Rhumbelow Theatre project. The show offers 44 years of catchy pub songs and the
occasional Irish jig.
2018 marks a special landmark for South
Africa’s much-loved Blarney Brothers, the legendary Durban-based Irish group. Now
celebrating their 44th anniversary, the indefatigable three-man musical outfit
have been at the heart of South Africa’s music scene for four decades this
year, livening up parties and gala events with their own special brand of
music, including Irish ballads, catchy pub songs, popular ‘newies’ and the
occasional Irish jig.
Surely South Africa’s longest-running group
with an unbroken performance record, The Blarney Brothers remain at the
forefront of the South African entertainment industry.
Comprising siblings Paul and Damien McIlroy
and fellow band member, Tony Fisher - who all settled in South Africa in the
70’s - the three Irish-born musicians joined forces to form their own
professional band in August 1974, landing a six-month contract to perform six
nights a week at Durban’s Astra Hotel in Russell Street.
With a swiftly growing fan base, they moved
on to the Pool Bar at the Lonsdale Hotel, then on to the Killarney Hotel.
Thereafter, they signed up as an entertainment act aboard a cruise ship,
Oceanic Independent, heading for Cape Town in 1976.
They stayed on in the Mother City to perform
at the Elizabeth Hotel, before signing on with the Holiday Inn Group. This led
to a Blarney Brothers deal being struck with Southern Suns to appear on their
national entertainment circuit, touring up and down the country at regular
intervals over the following number of years.
Blarney Brothers leader Paul McIlroy
recalls: “We came in for a lot of publicity when we were invited to perform on
the same bill as Pat Boone and his daughter, Debbie Boone, during their South
African tour. This was in 1977, the year Debbie Boone hit the big time globally
with her rendering of You Light Up My
Life”.
Shortly after this, with their children at
school-going age, the Blarney Brothers settled in Durban. They took up artistic
residence at The Barn, the entertainment venue at the then Athlone Hotel, now
the Riverside Hotel. This became closely linked with their brand at home, as
for some 12 or 13 years the group appeared here every Wednesday and Friday,
regularly pulling full houses. Other associated venues were the River Gardens
in Amanzimtoti, and Father’s Moustache at the Malibu Hotel opposite Durban’s
South Beach.
A career highlight during the following
decade was a commission to make the seven-part television documentary series, You Don’t Have To Be Irish. This saw the
Blarney Brothers taking a month off to film in Ireland for SABC 3. The series
was screened in South Africa in 1986 over six weeks.
Since the early 90s, the group have
undertaken numerous international tours. Besides appearing in the United Kingdom,
they have visited the Far East frequently, appearing in Singapore, Shanghai,
Macau, Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Australia.
They have performed in many world-famous
venues, notably the Excelsior Hotel’s Dickens Bar in Hong Kong during the Hong
Kong Rugby 7th every March. Last December saw the group performing at the
prestigious annual South African Shang Hai Ball.
“We are always game for a party and look
forward to renewing ties with old friends as well as meeting new ones. During
our 13 years at The Barn we played to an average of 1200 people a week. A lot
of couples met each other during our shows. Many of them still come back to see
us perform, bringing their children and grand kids to meet us,” says McIlroy.
While scores of Blarney Brothers fans need
no introduction to the famous group, new recruits can log onto
www.blarneybrothers.co.za for perspectives on their rich performance history,
as well as the titles of their CD’s, and other information.
Blarney
Party with The Blarney Brothers has performances on
February 2 and 3 at 20h00 and on February 4 at 14h00 and 18h30. The venue opens
90 minutes before show for picnic dinner.
Tickets R150 (R130 pensioners and tables of
eight or more).
Take along food picnic baskets. There is
limited secure parking and booking is essential. A cash bar is available (no
alcohol may be brought on to the premises).
Booking is through Computicket or contact
Roland on 082 499 8636, email roland@stansell.za.net (also for group booking
discounts of 20 or more) or visit http://events.durbantheatre.com
St Cyprian's Church Hall is situated at 603
Umbilo Road in Glenwood.
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