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July, 1978: The band's first publicity photo shoot. Taken on the strand at Lissadell, near Sligo. From left to right-Dick Lynott, Kim, Gerry Gallagher, and Joe Foley. These photos were never used by the band. The camera was mounted on a tripod. |
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July, 1978: Another photo from the Lissadell photo shoot.
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July, 1978: This photo was taken on the
same roll as photos above, a few days later. The background is the wall of Gerry and Kim's dining room. Note the band's equipment: an H&H 5 channel PA amp, Marmac PA speakers, Dick's Beverly bass and snare drum, Gerry's Fender Strat and Joe's Precision Bass, along with Gerry's EKO 12 string guitar, and Randall 100 watt
combo. P.S. Everything but the PA equipment is still in use today!
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September, 1978: The band in one of their favorite venues,
The Blue Lagoon in Sligo. Proprietor Peter Henry was one of the first local promoters to give the band a chance, a fact they appreciated throughout their stay in Ireland. |
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1979: An early band photo taken by local photographer Ken Keane which, for
some unknown reason, we never used for a handout or publicity shot.
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1979: Another photo from Ken Keane
that was never used.
(left to right) Joe, Dick, Kim, Gerry and Seamie. |
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April 1, 1979: The band's first visit to Murphy Flood's Hotel in Enniscorthy, a
regular gig for them over the next four years. |
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Early 1979: Kim and the band on stage in one of the many
Irish dance halls which dotted the Irish countryside in the heyday of the Showband scene which were replaced by hotel extensions and disco clubs in the mid-80's. On the far right is the band's "sixth man," Colm Feeney on guitar. |
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October 13, 1979: Kim's first appearance on Ireland's Late Late Show hosted by the legendary Gay Byrne. She appeared with Baby Louise Brown, the world's first test-tube baby and sang her second release, "Midnight Lullaby," which was originally written for Randy Parton, Dolly's brother. |
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November 24, 1979: The Beara Bay Hotel in Castletownbere was one of the band's favorite venues which they came back to again and again. Note the three band members hanging out of the upstairs window: Joe Foley, Dick Lynott, and Seamie McGowan. |
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November 24, 1979: Kim poses beside the band's first van, a Volkswagen which
actually held all the equipment and five members of the band. A former delivery van, it wouldn't be long before they traded it in for something more suitable.
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December 10, 1979: Kim and the band take part in
the 1979 Western Journal Awards at the Sligo Park Hotel in Sligo. Kim and Gerry singing together. |
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December 10, 1979: Kim and the band take part in
the 1979 Western Journal Awards at the Sligo Park Hotel in Sligo. This is a shot of the whole front line. Not quite visible is Dick Lynott on drums.
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December 10, 1979: Kim and the Band receive the "Best New Band" at the Western Journal Star Awards
from Mrs. Ray McSharry. Sandy Duskey hosted the show, along with RTE's Pascal Mooney. |
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Christmas, 1979: Gerry jams with Pat Ely (of the Rocky Tops) and the legendary Ritchie Fitzgerald of the Fitzgerald Ceili Band which was famous in the 50's and 60's. Gerry toured England with Ritchie's band in 1975 and also played with
Pat Ely on several occasions. Photo is from Fitzgerald's Music Centre Christmas party.
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Early gig, 1979 or 1980: Seamie and Joe run through a number before taking the stage in Bunnacurry Hall in Achill. This was usually the only time the band had to work out new numbers as both Joe and Gerry worked full time jobs in the early days.
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Early gig, 1979 or 1980: This photo was taken during an early gig in a dance hall, most likely
Bunnacurry Hall on Achill Island. Although primitive looking by today's standards, from the 60's to the 80's, Ireland was dotted with hundreds of similar halls which were the lifeblood of the dance scene.
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September 1, 1980: One of
several publicity shots taken of the band by top Showband photographer,
Roy Esmonde, in his studio in Ranelagh, Dublin. |
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October 18, 1980: Joe, Dick and Seamie on board the Killimer to Tarbert Ferry which "short cuts" the drive to Kerry. The band was playing in the Beara Bay Hotel in Castletownbere which was always one of their favorite venues. |
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October 18, 1980: The band often had to take the ferry when traveling from Sligo to the coast of Kerry
(Castletownbere). This is a picture of the van on one such trip to Castletownbere.
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February 10, 1981: The band's first appearance on TV was the SBB show. James Blennerhassett was in the process of joining the band on bass and Joe Foley was leaving after being with the band since the beginning. Shown in the photo L to R: Seamie McGowan, Kim, James Blennerhassett, Joe
Foley, Colm Feeney, and Gerry. |
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March 9, 1981: The band plays The
Sligo Journal Awards concert in Strandhill. Photography by local photographer Ken Keane. This is
one of a handful of professional photos taken of the band playing live.
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Summer, 1981: Kim, James, Seanie and Seamie relax on the Killimer Ferry on the way to a gig in the South of Ireland. The
trip on the ferry was often a welcome rest from what would be a six hour trek from Sligo to Castletownbere.
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Mid 1981: James Blennerhassett, Seamie McGowan and Seanie Ryan set up equipment in
the Baymount Hotel (formerly the Silver Slipper Ballroom) in Strandhill. The Baymount was also the final venue played by the band before returning to the United States in 1983. |
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Late Summer 1981: L to R: Seamie, Brian, Colm, Gerry and Paul Hamilton take a break on a way to a gig. This is
one of the few photos we have with Paul in the band. |
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Late Summer 1981: Stopping for a break on the road L to R:
Gerry, Colm. Seamie, Brian, and Paul. The other photo we have with Paul in the band.
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September 22, 1981: Kim appears on Brendan Grace's series,
That's Showbiz. She appeared
with Brendan Grace on both of his series in the early 1980's. On this
show, she sang I Got The Music In Me, the hit song by Kiki Dee. It was one of Kim's most popular live numbers, especially in cabaret. |
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December 7, 1982: Kim belts out
New York, New York on Brendan Grace's series, That's Showbiz. She appeared with singer Tony Kenny and
Ireland's all-girl group, Sheeba which featured an unusual format with the entertainers appearing throughout the show. |
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December 7, 1982. Tony Kenny, Brendan Grace, and Kim share a laugh during the taping of the Brendan Grace Show. Kim performed New York, New York, and also joined in the finale which fetaured Tony, Brendan and Kim singing Sit Down Your Rockin The Boat. |
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December 7, 1982. Tony
Kenny, Brendan Grace (as his character Bottler), and Kim. |
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June 1, 1982: Kim poses with the winners of the
Tuam Herald Award at a civic reception held at the Tuam Town Hall before the show.
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1981: Kim receives the Top New Band award at the Sligo Journal awards.
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September 6, 1983: The band's final appearance in Ireland is at the "Over 21 Club" at the Sligo Park Hotel in their home town. Pictured is the band's
final line-up: L to R: Seamie McGowan, Brian Mullin, Michael Gallagher, and Gerry Gallagher. |
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Late 1982: Michael Gallagher on drums |
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April 12, 1982: Kim appears with many of Ireland's top female singers on the final episode of The Twink Show. As well as Kim, the show featured a re-united Maxi, Dick & Twink, and many of the top performers of the time.
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August 21, 1983: This is the last "publicity shot" taken of the band for an article which appeared in a newspaper in Co. Donegal. It was taken at the Highland Hotel in Glenties. The band played only a handful of dates after this and then
departed for California. |
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August, 1983:
Brian Mullin, Kim, and Donal Cannan ready the van for it's final trip. After removing the equipment and customization the band had done, the van is ready for the trip to its new owners with just a few dates left to play. |
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September 1983: Michael Gallagher on drums during the band's final performance in the Baymount, Strandhill. Michael was with the band from December, 1981 through to the end in September, 1983.
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September, 1983: Kim Newport Band's last gig. Kim on stage at the
Baymount, Strandhill as they finished up their stint in Ireland. Although this was the last gig played, Kim continued performed on The Music Show a month later before leaving for the States. The show aired in November.
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September, 1983: Kim Newport Band's last gig. Kim on stage at the Baymount, Strandhill as they finished up their stint in Ireland. Although
this was the last gig played, Kim continued performed on The Music Show a month later before leaving for the States. The show aired in November.
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September 3, 1983: Kim and the band in action on their final night in
the Baymount, Strandhill. A good crowd turned out to wish Kim and the boys well in the future, a fact they have never forgotten.
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October 15, 1983: When Kim recorded her spot for the new RTE series, The Music Show, on October 15, Gerry
had already left Ireland and Kim would soon follow. The program did not air until November 25, almost a month after Kim returned to the States.
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