Rhumbelow Theatre, Pietermaritzburg will
present Blarney Party with the legendary
Durban-based Irish group, The Blarney Brothers, at the Allan Wilson Shellhole,
on March 25 at 14h00.
2018 marks a special landmark for South
Africa’s much-loved Blarney Brothers. 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 our 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 1,200 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 takes place at 14h00 on March 25. (Venue
opens 90 minutes before show for picnics & drinks).
Tickets R150 (R130 pensioners, R90 MOTH
members & block bookings of 8 or more). Bring food picnic baskets and a bar
is available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises). There is limited
secure parking.
Booking is through Computicket or contact
Roland on 031 205 7602 or 082 499 8636, email roland@stansell.za.net or visit
www.rhumbelow.za.net
The Allan Wilson Shellhole is situated at 5
Durban Road in Pietermaritzburg.
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