Death of Joe Dolan

Joe Dolan.

Not only the Irish music industry but Ireland generally was was plunged into mourning on St. Stephen's Day with the unexpected death of our greatest and best loved entertainer Joe Dolan. As Joe Dolan and The Drifters he was one of the leading lights of the Showband era. He was also one of the first artists to realise the potential of the cabaret scene and in the early '70s he began a whole new career performing in Cabaret and Concert venues that lasted right up to the present. He was also a prolific recording artist and had worldwide hits songs such as House With The Whitewashed Gables, The Answer To Everything, You're Such A Goodlooking Woman, and Make Me An Island, which was his biggest hit, and went to No.3 on the British charts in 1969 and topped the Charts in 14 countries across Europe.He also had a string of hits in the '70s and '80s. Despite his worldwide success, Joe continued to live in his native Mullingar, and his regular tours here were always sold out events.A huge crowd attended his removal and burial in his hometown Mullingar on Dec 29th.

Fans queued all day long to catch a last glimpse and to bid a fond farewell to thier idol who was dressed in his familiar white suit. But then queuing was nothing new to Joe Dolan fans ----- some of them had been doing it for over 40 years.