Fancy playing a 'uke' like George?

One of the most famous exponents of the ukulele in these islands was the actor/singer George Formby, writes Brian Byrne, who had Lancashire roots and a variety show entertainer father, James Booth — who later changed his name to Formby.

As a youngster, George was small and his father had horses, so he was apprenticed to a number of stables to get him a start in that business. He was sent to Johnny Burns's stable on The Curragh in 1915, since there was hardly any racing in England during WW1. While there he was enrolled in school in Athgarvan.

The young George wouldn't have good memories of the school, often being caned for coming in late, due to his heavy work schedule at the stables. He tried to run away to home several times, on one occasion being picked up by police before boarding the RMS Leinster. Fortunately for him, as it was later that day torpedoed by the Germans and sank with no survivors.

All that is a preamble to a suggestion by a local man that a ukulele group might be set up in Kilcullen.

"I've been poking at the ukulele for a year or two," says Robert Jordan. "I have attended a couple of 'uke nights' in Dublin which are great. You learn, it's fun, it's as social as you want it to be. The energy is amazing — as many as 50 people playing together!

"Is there anyone in Kilcullen, Newbridge, Calverstown, or the Dunlavin area who might like to join me and set up a Uke group around here? Say two nights per month, in a non-pub venue.

"We could start with as few as five or six. If you're interested, even if you're new to ukulele, or considering it, please email robertcurris@hotmail.com. We'll set up a trial night and see what happens."

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