Memories of Brendan Bowyer

Sorry to hear today of the death of Brendan Bowyer, writes Brian Byrne. In the early 1960s when I was going to local ballrooms like Lawlors of Naas, the Royal Showband was the biggest draw around. They also played on at least one occasion in the marquee at Kilcullen Parish Carnival.

I met him several times. He would regularly stop in for a break to the Grill Bar located in the front part of The Hideout, while driving from his home in Waterford to Dublin. His tipple was coffee or Coke, and he was a much quieter guy in conversation, even shy, than was his very lively public persona on stage.

While everyone remembers 'The Hucklebuck', his signature show-stopper to all of us young dancers at the time was Brendan's rendition of 'So Deep Is The Night' (The Swallow/La Golondrina). A classical Mexican folk song, his presentation inevitably just stopped everyone and everything on the floor, to just stand and listen.

He was probably the catalyst to many romances, and maybe also started some of us to first heartbreaks, on the dance floors where we all struggled our way to dealing with our hormones.

Thanks for the memories, Brendan. Even the broken heart ones.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy