The Night Joe Dolan's Car Broke Down, at Dublin's Olympia Theatre, from Mon 13th - Sat 18th February at 8.00PM

MCD in association with Verdant & Glenaduff Productions proudly presents the return of Padraic McIntyre's ever popular musical comedy The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down, to the stage of Dublin's Olympia Theatre for a limited run from 13th-18th February at 8.00PM.

Imagine being stranded with Showband legend Joe Dolan in a rural pub in Co. Cavan on the night that his car breaks down. Well, that's just the sort of fantasy scenario that is imagined in The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down. The play is set on a stormy St. Stephen's night as people gather to celebrate the 60th birthday party of the The Horse Munley public house. As the storm worsens and people head for home, a knock comes to the door which brings the night's entertainment to a whole new level. As the play unfolds so too do personal secrets, the music and the craic!This hilarious show has been a sell out success in theatres all over Ireland, including Dublin, Cavan, Roscommon, Longford, Mullingar, Monaghan and Galway. Mixing comedy, drama and music, The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down is a treat for all theatre and Joe Dolan fans alike!

Nightly shows are from 8.00PM and there will also be a matinee show on Saturday 18th February from 3.00PM. Tickets from €27 (including booking fee) are on sale now and are available to purchase from ticketmaster.ie and usual outlets nationwide.

FAREWELL CONCERT AND NEW BOOK BY GENE CHETTY OF THE SHOWBAND GENE AND THE GENTS

Fans of Gene Chetty of the showband Gene and the Gents will be pleased to know that he has written a book telling his life story, from growing up in South Africa during the apartheid era to his music career as the lead singer with one of Ireland's top showbands.

Gene, or Dushy to give him his real name, has chosen to launch this book at his farewell concert which will take place at the Westville Hotel in Enniskillen on Wednesday 7th October 2015. During this concert Gene will perform all his hits from his showband career plus many more favourites, and will be backed by the fabulous Northwest Showband. Gene's showband career started in Enniskillen, and he says that he and the band always had tremendous support there over the years, so it's really fitting that he should choose to have his final concert there where it all began. Tickets for this memorable evening are available by contacting Eunan McCaffrey on 07548730567. The proceeds from the sale of the tickets will benefit Gene's favourite local charity Women Making Waves. 

NEW ALBUM BY GENE CHETTY OF THE SHOWBAND GENE AND THE GENTS TO BENEFIT CANCER RESEARCH UK AND THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRUST

Lovers of Showband music will be pleased to know that Gene Chetty, former lead singer with the Showband Gene and the Gents, is back with a brand new album entitled Gene Chetty sings Gene and the Gents Showband Favourites.

The album features a diverse mix of classic songs such as "(I Don't Know Why I Love You) But I Do", "You're Such A Good Looking Woman", "You Never Can Tell", "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", "Blueberry Hill" and "End of the World". 

The proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit the charities Cancer Research UK and Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The CD costs €10 / £ 7 (including post and packaging) and is available by contacting Gene Chetty directly via his email address: dushy.chetty@btinternet.com. 

Click here to have a listen to one of the tracks from the album.

NEW BOOK: - "MEMOIRS OF THE RED SEVEN / COLUMBIA SHOWBAND" BY FOUNDER MEMBER JOE WEADICK

Fans of Arklow's Red Seven / Columbia Showband will be pleased to know that one of the band's founding members, Joe Weadick, has written a book entitled Memoirs of the Red Seven / Columbia Showband. 

The book, which took ten years to write, gives a history of the band and includes a chapter by each surviving member, each telling their own personal experiences, including many interesting stories. Chapters have been written by the author in memory of two band members who have passed away. 

The book is priced €15.00 and is available in most Arklow newsagents and at Easons in the Bridgewater Shopping Centre, Arklow. It is available in Byrnes Book Shop in Gorey, Co. Wicklow and in Chapter One Book Shop, also in Gorey. It is also available in Track One Music Store in Wicklow Town and in Everest Music Store in Bray. 

However, if either of these book stores are a little bit out of your reach, you can still purchase a copy of this great book by sending a cheque or postal order for €15.00 to the author: Joe Weadick, 44 Fernhill, Arklow, Co. Wicklow.  

This book not only tells the story of Arklow's Red Seven / Columbia Showband, it also provides the reader with a great insight into the Showband Era in general. It really is a great read and is a must for all Showband lovers.

NEW ALBUM BY GENE CHETTY OF GENE AND THE GENTS FAME TO BENEFIT CANCER RESEARCH UK.

Lovers of Showband music will be pleased to know that Gene Chetty, former lead singer with Gene and the Gents, has recently released an album entitled Gene Chetty – Showband and Other Favourites. 

The album features a diverse mixture of old and new recordings, including four from his time with Gene and the Gents and ten recently recorded covers of such songs as "You Light Up My Life", "Can't Help Falling In Love", "Your Cheating Heart", "Proud Mary", "Love Is In The Air", "Angels", "Chasing Cars" and many more. It also features a recital by Gene of a poem by Dennis Manley entited "Cardboard City". 

The proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit the charity Cancer Research UK. The CD is available via the website: http://www.genestuart.com and by contacting Gene Chetty directly via his myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/geneandthegents, or by emailing him on dushy.chetty@btinternet.com.

Click here to have a listen to a couple of tracks from the album.