Shanbogh Folk Group

The Shanbogh Folk Group began as part of a variety show organised by past pupils of Shanbogh National School in the mid 1960’s. It was the era of Beatlemania, the Clancy Brothers, Woodstock, the Dubliners, the Great Folk and Ballad Revival and flowers in your hair (though we never went that far!).

Three members from the show formed a ballad group - Mikey Greene, Jack Stacey and Phil Fortune (R.I.P.). We sang in various pubs and halls around the local area and took part in talent shows which were very popular at the time.

Over the next few years the membership of the group changed several times. Former members included Pat Fortune (R.I.P.), Nan Greene, Mary Fortune, Margaret Dowling and John Doyle (R.I.P.).

I’m the late 1960’s youngsters Larry Kirwan, Tom Walsh and Mary Clear joined the group. We took part in folk festivals in Wexford, Clonmel, Portlaoise, Mullingar and Letterkenny, where Mary was judged best female vocalist, beating serious opposition such as Moyà Brennan, and performed with well-known groups such as Emmett Spiceland, the Pattersons and Clannad.

Our 15 minutes of fame arrived in 1971 with the new line-up. We won the Kilkenny Beer Festival Ballad Contest, singing before 3,000 people in the famous Beer Tent. Our prize was £500 (serious money in those days!). This led to two appearances on RTE television and at various venues throughout Ireland.

Last year we realised there was no recording of how we sounded. Inspired by the Nomads album After All These Years, we went into studio and recorded four songs. We are delighted to sing them at the Nomads concert in St. Michael’s Theatre, New Ross, on Thursday next, 12th October, at 8 pm.

We have plans to record some more songs in the near future, so watch this space😀.