Stephen Garvey is coming home



Connaught Telegraph 14 August 1996


Stephen Garvey was truly a master musician, composer, director and producer. The legacy he left to Castlebar and lovers of music everywhere is profound.

Forty years after his death in Texas, his reinternment next Sunday in the Garvey plot of Old Cemetery, Castlebar, is a fitting tribute to one of the town's greatest personalities.

Born in 1902, the fourth son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Garvey, Castle Street, Castlebar, Stephen came to prominence as a musician at the age of 12 with his first band consisting of himself, the piano and piano stool.

A perfectionist in all things, emotional, exacting, and having all those eccentricities associated with genius, there was a distinct class about everything he did and every show he produced.

In addition to band and show work, he was organist and choirmaster in the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar, for many years.

A master of Irish music on the piano, Stephen delighted in playing for Irish dancers and it was frequently said that only Stephen could play an old time waltz in proper tempo.

The year, 1926, saw him in great demand all over Connaught, but greater things were to come and Stephen Garvey's band were broadcasted by Radio Eireann from a dance at Bailey's Ballroom, Galway.

Another critically acclaimed broadcast followed from the Town Hall in Castlebar.

Stephen's interest in the music field broadened and he began producing Gilbert and Sullivan operas and musical shows.

His fame spread to London and beyond where he was a great hit, especially among Irish emigrants.

Of his London tour in 1952, Stephen remarked: "So numerous are the Irish in London, that I was just as much at home in the halls there as I would be in the Town Hall in Castlebar or in any of the provincial halls in Ireland which I frequent.

"One thing that struck me very forcibly - and I would like their parents to note this - was how very happy our exiles are in London, how smartly they turn out, how prosperous they appear and, above all, how well they get on with the Londoners."

His first musical production was a pantomime "Little Red Riding Hood" and he followed this with "Babes in the Wood", "The Enchanted Forest" and "The Mikado".

Among the many talented musicians to get their first "break" with Stephen was Val Doonican. Stephen died on January 27th, 1962, aged 60 years, while visiting his sister, Sister Mercedes, in Houston, Texas.

A plaque was erected in his honour in 1973 by Castlebar Urban Council at the family home of the Garveys at Castle Street.

Surviving members of the Garvey family include nephews, Stephen Garvey Jnr, niece, Mary O'Toole, cousins, Charles (Dublin), Katherine Walsh (Mountbellew) and John (New York), the Aston family (Dublin), and other relatives in Ballina, Galway, Tuam, Cork, Chicago and New York.

John Garvey is travelling from New York for the reinternment ceremonies.

Brendan Ward, who played with the Stephen Garvey Orchestra for many years, will also be in attendance.

Celebration of the life of Stephen Garvey

The remains of Castlebar musical maestro Stephen Garvey will be reinterred in the Old Cemetery, Castlebar, on Sunday next, August 18th, following 11.15a.m. Mass

The ceremony will centre on a celebration of music and the life and works of Stephen Garvey. His remains will arrive at Shannon Airport on Friday, August 16th, and will be removed to Thomas Street Funeral Home.

The remains will be removed from the funeral home at 6.00 on Saturday evening to the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar, for a special ceremony The Guard of Honour for the occasion will include the Brose Walsh band, Tony Chambers and any other musicians to play a part in the ceremony. The Order of Malta, under the direction of John Cunningham, will provide the pall bearers.

The cortege will move through Chapel Street, Linenhall Street, Main Street, The Mall and Mountain View. Jack Ruane will perform a hymn at the church ceremony, accompanied by the choir and Sister Margo, church organist.

Castlebar Town Band play a concert on the Mall on Sunday at 3.00p.m. following the ceremonies. Castle Street and Main Street will be decorated by the St. Patrick's day parade committee, to whom appreciation is extended.

Plans to have the body of Stephen Garvey returned for burial in Castlebar began late year, with the establishment of the Stephen Garvey memorial committee.

The commitment of its members and the generous support of Castlebar townspeople has made this weekend's ceremonies possible.

Among those involved in the project were committee chairman, Henry Downes; secretary, Billy Murphy; treasurer, Shane Rodgers; committee members, John Hamrock, Sean Bourke, Maureen O'Lochlainn, Tommy Kitterick, Leo Garvey, Sean Horkan, Patsy Horkan, Jimmy Reilly, Joe Doherty, John Garvey (USA), Angela Corcoran, Paul Ainsworth, Leo Shaughnessy, Michael Basquill, Tom Deveraux, Jimmy Feeney, Seamus Chambers, Johnny Mulvey, Kathleen Heneghan, Jimmy Walsh, Stephen Garvey, Stephanie Aston, Deirdre Kelly, Tony Chambers, Mary O'Toole (Galway), Jack Ruane (Ballina), John Cunningham.

Stephen Garvey's first musical pantomime

Stephen Garvey's first musical pantomime, 'Little Red Riding Hood', was staged in the Town Hall, Castlebar, on Friday and Sunday, February 27th and 29th, 1922.

On the first night the hall was packed, and all records were broken on Sunday night with many people unable to gain admission. According to a report in the Connaught Telegraph, all who saw the performance were delighted, and the little children of the town excelled themselves.

Credit was extended to Mrs. Faulkner, The Grove, Mrs. Moles, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Mongey, Mrs. C.W. Ryan and Miss. B. Hynes for their services in arraying the children

Tributes were heaped on Stephen Garvey for his initiative in deciding to produce a pantomime and for the way he trained the children.

Mrs. Leo Coleman assisted at the piano.

The principal players were as follows:
Little Red Riding Hood: Angela Corcoran.
Dame Margot: Katie Garvey.
Prince Cupid: Peggie Rumley.
Bo Beep, Boy Blue and Simple Simon: Nora Wynne, Thomas Rumley and James Garvey.
Bobble Me Up: Mamie Hynes.
Fairy Queen: Annie Horkan.
Butterfly: May Wynne.
Rosy Pink, Dewdrop: Belle Murphy, Josephine Deffley.

Chorus of Fairies and Dancers: Madge and Moll Brady, Maureen and Peggy Ryan, Mary and Kathleen Faulkner, Betty Wynne, Kathleen Murray, Ena and Margaret Waters, Maureen Flannelly, Eileen Rumley, Furry Kelly, Evelyn and Una Mongey, Eileen Leamy, Rose Mary Carney, Kathleen Brady, Cissie Gibbons, Ester McMahon, Rita Gibbons, Madge Hynes, Mary Ennis, Molly Boland, Bridie Leonard and Rita Garvey.

Other Stephen Garvey pantomime produced over the years included Babes in the Wood (1923), The Mikado (1925), The Enchanted Forest (1925), Trial By Jury (1927), Pirates of Penzance (1927), The Gondoliers (1928), Lilac Times (1944), A Country Girl (1944), The Belle of New York (1945) and the Yeoman of the Guard (1945), all of which are fondly remembered by people of the town.



Connaught Telegraph - News - August 1996

Connaught Telegraph - Sport - August 1996



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