Castlebar Song Contest
{{Short description|Annual international song contest in Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Irish English|date=March 2013}}
The Castlebar Song Contest was an annual international song contest that was first staged in 1966{{cite book |last1=McGuinness |first1=Paddy |year=2017 | title=Castlebar International Song Contest 1966 - 1988 |isbn=978-1527202306 }}{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/ConnTel/CT9807/CT980729/Death.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19991009070334/http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/ConnTel/CT9807/CT980729/Death.htm# |archivedate=9 October 1999 |via=Wayback Machine |title=The late Mr Michael McDermott, Spencer Street, Castlebar |work=The Connaught Telegraph|date=29 July 1998 |accessdate=17 November 2017}} in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland. The contest was initially organised by the Castlebar Chamber of Commerce as part of a drive to increase tourism in the town.{{cite news |title="Shalom" wins Castlebar |work=Billboard |pages=59–60 |url={{Google books |swcEAAAAMBAJ|page=59 |text=Wins Castlebar |plainurl=yes}} |date=26 October 1974 |location=Los Angeles}}{{cite episode |series="Newsbeat" |date=10 October 1966 |season=1966 |first=Cathal |last=O'Shannon |authorlink=Cathal O'Shannon (TV presenter) |via=RTÉ Archives |accessdate=17 November 2017 |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2016/1007/822312-first-castlebar-song-contest/ |title=An Embarrassment Of Good Songs For Castlebar 1966 |network=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}{{free access}} It was hoped that the competition would produce a song that would make the town famous, just as songs such as "The Rose of Tralee", "Galway Bay", or "Mary from Dungloe" had done for their respective towns. The first contest had 70 entries from the UK and Ireland, and the final was hosted by Gay Byrne. The winning song bore the Irish version of the town's name, Caisleán A' Bharraigh.
Information
After the first contest, the emphasis changed from finding a song named after the town to one of promoting the town through attracting composers, of various genres, from all over the world to the town. This strategy was successful and the town (and some of the neighbouring towns) were thronged with contest participants for the first week of October for the remainder of the contest's life. From humble beginnings with a mere £50 in prizes, the event grew in status to a point where its prize money at £20,000 was bettered only by the Yamaha Song Contest in Japan.
In 1981, the future of the song contest became political when it was debated in Dáil Éireann.{{cite web |accessdate=12 October 2014 |url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail1981120100020?opendocument |title=Dáil Éireann - Volume 331 - 01 December, 1981 - Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Castlebar Song Contest |publisher=Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas |date=1 December 1981}}
Broadcast
In 1970, the contest was recorded for television by RTÉ (the national television station) and transmitted on the following Sunday. The 1971 and 1973 contests were similarly recorded and shown later. However, the 1974 contest was broadcast live from the Old Royal Ballroom and Theatre{{cite web |archivedate=18 May 2009 |last=Commins |first=Michael |url=http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3509&Itemid=38 |title=Big Tom for final TF show |publisher=The Mayo News |date=26 February 2008 |accessdate=14 April 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518235904/http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3509&Itemid=38# |url-status=dead}} and Travellers Friend Hotel{{cite web |archivedate=19 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519011843/http://www.communitywebsites.com.au/listing.htm?ql=91141640 |title=Travellers Friend Hotel & Theatre |accessdate=12 October 2017 |url=http://www.communitywebsites.com.au/listing.htm?ql=91141640 }} in Castlebar nationally on RTÉ. Apart from 1987, when there was no contest, the event enjoyed live television coverage from 1974 until the event finished in 1988.{{cite news |url-status=live |accessdate=17 November 2017 |archivedate=16 April 2016 |work=The Mayo News |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416083601/http://www.mayonews.ie/component/content/article?itemid=46&id=10409:castlebar-song-contest-to-be-chronicled-for-posterity |url=http://www.mayonews.ie/component/content/article?itemid=46&id=10409:castlebar-song-contest-to-be-chronicled-for-posterity |title=Castlebar Song Contest to be chronicled for posterity |date=27 July 2010}} James Haldane O'Hare was the TV Designer for RTÉ for the majority of the broadcasts.{{cite book |last1=McGuinness |first1=Paddy |year=2017 | title=Castlebar International Song Contest 1966 - 1988 |isbn=978-1527202306 }}
Winners
| style="background:#aecfa1;" | Year | Section | Composer | Singer(s) | Song Title | Country |
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1966
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Sheila Fawsitt-Stewart | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Dragoons | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Caisleán A' Bharraigh" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1967
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Folk/Ballad | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Peter McKenzie | style="background:#cae1ff;"|McLoughlin Folk Group | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Where Did They Go" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1967
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Pop | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Vera Traynor | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Butch Moore | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"No One Else" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1967
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Straight | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Andy Galligan | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Joan Connolly | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"One and One" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1968
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Folk/Ballad | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Joe Burkett/Tony Hyland | style="background:#cae1ff;"|City Folk | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Dividing Line" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1968
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Pop | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Eileen Coyle | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Tony Keeling | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"The World is Ours Today" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1968
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Straight | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Sean Sharkey/Eddie Masterson | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Pat Lynch & Airchords | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Reflections of You" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1969
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Folk/Ballad | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Ruth Kiernan | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Tara Folk | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Soldier Boy" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1969
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Pop | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Mai O'Higgins/John McBreen | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Gary Street & Fairways | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Jodi" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1969
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Straight | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Pat Walsh | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Joe Doherty & Millionaires | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"A Country & Western Song" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1970
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Folk/Ballad | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Noel and Alan Connaughton | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Melody Fayre | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Mary I'm Nay Leaving You" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1970
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Pop | style="background:#cae1ff;"|John Lavery | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Gerry & Ohio | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"One Step Away" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1970
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Straight | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Seamus McHugh/John Fahy | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Red Hurley | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"The World Is Such An Empty Place"{{cite web|url=http://www.irish-showbands.com/Bands/redhurley.htm |url-status=live |title=Red Hurley |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012144743/http://www.irish-showbands.com/Bands/redhurley.htm |archivedate=12 October 2017|publisher=Irish Showbands |accessdate=12 October 2017}} | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1971
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Folk/Ballad | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Vic Dawton | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Joe Cuddy | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Diana of the Roses" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{ENG}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1971
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Pop | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Michael Murphy | style="background:#cae1ff;"|La Salle | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Feeling I've Got It Made" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1971
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Country | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Donal McGrath/K. Doohan | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Ian Corrigan | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Slumbering Goldmine" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1971
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Michael Murphy | style="background:#cae1ff;"|La Salle | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Feeling I've Got It Made" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1972
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Folk/Ballad | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Sheila Roberts | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Frank Holder | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Song for Jenny" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1972
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Pop | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Dick Farrelly | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Mary Lou | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"That's What Love Is Made Of" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1972
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Country | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Teresa O'Donnell | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Gerry Cronin | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"He Travels Fastest" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1972
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Straight | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Pat Coyle | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Helen Jordan | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Shall I Ride" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1972
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Sheila Roberts | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Frank Holder | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Song for Jenny" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1973
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Vince Hill/Ernie Dunstall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Joe Cuddy | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"I'm Gonna Make It" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{ENG}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1974
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Cathal Dunne | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Cathal Dunne | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Shalom" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1974
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Country | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Tibor Koncz/Iván Szenes | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Kati Kovács | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Hungary}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1975
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Joe Burkett/Andy Galligan | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Des Smyth | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Roulette" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1976
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Joint Winners | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Ray Davies | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Tony Steven T. O'Donnell/Joe Bollard | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"My Woman" "Let's Star All Over" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{ENG}} {{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1977
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|John Brown | style="background:#cae1ff;"|John Brown/Mary Clifford | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"You are My Destiny" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1978
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Sarah Byron/Liam Hurley | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Sarah Bryan | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Onion" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{ENG}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1979
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Zack Laurence/Paul Ferguson | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Kim Goody | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Talkin' to a Stone" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{ENG}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1980
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Ed Welch/Barry Mason | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Linda Jardim | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Don't Stay for the Sake of the Children" | style="background:#cae1ff;"| {{ENG}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1981
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Miki Antony/Robin Smith | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Carol Kenyon | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"I Wasn't Born Yesterday" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{ENG}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1982
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Barry Mason/Don Gould | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Barry Mason | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Big Enough for Me & You" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{ENG}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1983
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Shay Healy | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Linda Martin | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Edge of the Universe" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1984
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Brian O'Reilly | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Brian O'Reilly | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Spread Your Wings" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1985
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{interlanguage link|Ulf Nordquist|sv}} | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Sten & Stanley | style="background:#cae1ff;"| "Don't Play A Sad Song After Midnight"{{cite web |language=Swedish |title=Samlade TV-Hits |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104180431/http://www.stenochstanley.se/skivor/samlade_tv-hits.htm# |archivedate=4 January 2009 |url-status=live |url=http://www.stenochstanley.se/skivor/samlade_tv-hits.htm |trans-title=Total TV Hits |website=Sten & Stanley Official website |accessdate=6 May 2009}} | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Sweden}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1986
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Tim Norell & Ola Håkonsson | style="background:#cae1ff;"|KATZ | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"Oh, Johnny Dance With Me Tonight" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Sweden}} | ||||||
| style="background:#aecfa1; text-align:center;"|1988
| style="background:#cae1ff;"|Overall | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Brendan Graham | style="background:#cae1ff;"|Linda Martin | style="background:#cae1ff;"|"If I Should Ever Lose Your Love" | style="background:#cae1ff;"|{{Esc|Ireland}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.mayolibrary.ie/media/Lyons%20Collection/Lyons%20Photographic%20Collection/album/Mayo%20places/Castlebar/Castlebar%20Song%20Contest/index.html Photo collection of Mayo Library]
{{authority control}}
{{Irish Festivals}}
Category:1966 establishments in Ireland
Category:1988 disestablishments in Ireland
Category:Castlebar Song Contest winners
Category:Music festivals in Ireland
Category:Recurring events established in 1966