Newry & the Eurovision Song Contest


Ireland’s first victory came in Amsterdam on 21st March 1970 when 18-year-old schoolgirl Rosemary Brown performed “All Kinds of Everything” as Dana. At a meeting of Newry No 1 Rural District Council, held on Thursday 26th March 1970, it was proposed by Councillor J Matthews, seconded by Mr ET Brady, that the housing estate at Rostrevor Road, Hilltown should be named “Dana Place”. A special reception was held at the Ardmore Hotel, Newry and the INF Hall, Hilltown, was packed when Dana performed there. It was at the Ardmore Hotel reception that Dana first met the hotel’s managing director, Damien Scallon. In October 1978 they were married and for a time they lived at Rostrevor.
As a result of Dana’s victory, Ireland was the host for Eurovision in 1971. The UK entrant was Clodagh Rodgers, who recently passed away on 18 April at the age of 78. Clodagh grew up in Warrenpoint and was a pupil at St Mary’s High School, Newry. Her family owned a drapery shop in Warrenpoint, while her father, Louis, was a theatrical agent and dancehall show promoter who brought English and American artistes over to venues across Ireland. Among the big acts he brought to Ireland in the 1950s and 1960s were Eddie Calvert, Alma Cogan, Hank Locklin and Tom Jones, as well as Joe Frazier, the world heavyweight champion, who played a number of concerts with his band, “The Knockouts”. Thanks to her father’s connections, from the age of twelve Clodagh began to appear as a supporting act for more established stars such as Michael Holliday and Jim Reeves.
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Hide AdIn 1962 Clodagh signed with Decca Records and moved to England to pursue a career in music. She made her BBC television debut on the “Adam Faith Show” in September 1962 and appeared in 1963 musical films “Just for Fun” and “It’s All Over Town”. In 1968 she married John Morris, who became her manager, and collaborating with producer and songwriter Kenny Young her singles “Come Back and Shake Me” and “Goodnight Midnight” were both Top 5 hits, making Clodagh the best-selling female singles artist of 1969.


Following this success, Clodagh was chosen by the BBC to represent the UK at Eurovision. Early in 1971 she performed six songs on the “It’s Cliff Richard” show, from which “Jack in the Box” was selected. Clodagh’s sister, Lavinia, accompanied her to the Eurovision final, held in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, where she was one of Clodagh’s backing vocalists. Watching the programme on television in her Newry home in Aileen Terrace was Clodagh’s 86-year-old grandmother, Mrs Roseanne Mulvey.
Appearing for Ireland in the 1971 contest was 19-year-old chemist’s assistant, Angela Farrell, from Portadown, who sang “One Day Love”. Angela’s singing talent had earlier been recognised in Newry, when she won top Junior Prize at the Killeavy “Spot the Star” Contest held in Cloghogue Parochial Hall in 1967. At Eurovision, though, she finished in eleventh place, while Clodagh ended up fourth. Clodagh continued recording and touring, and appeared in musical theatre, television shows and pantomimes, for instance, she was “Cinderella” to Ronnie Corbett’s “Buttons” at the London Palladium.
In 1986 Newry band, Luv Bug, became the first Northern group to represent the Republic of Ireland in Eurovision. The five-piece group included Newry siblings Hugh, June and Max Cunningham, along with Ricky Meyler from Omagh and female drummer, Majella Grant, also from Newry. The band which had been established in 1977 was accompanied to the Eurovision final in Norway by their manager Michael Magill from Warrenpoint. As with Clodagh, the Luv Bug song,“You Can Count On Me”, ended up in fourth place.
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Hide AdAs well as performers, the compositions of Newry songwriters have also appeared at Eurovision, representing Ireland. In 1998 Gerry Morgan’s “Is Always Over Now?” was sung by Dundalk hairdresser, Dawn Martin, while in 2001 Newry Ulsterbus worker, Pat Sheridan, penned the ballad “Without Your Love” which was performed by Gary O’Shaughnessy.
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