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It
was indeed a very sad day for all lovers of Irish music, not alone
here in the Midlands, but all over England and Ireland, when word
came through that Johnny Loughrey has passed away after finally
loosing his battle with cancer at the early age of 59.
Johnny was one of the nicest and most sincere people it has been my
pleasure to have known and promoted in over thirty five years that
I have spent in the music business, and his passing will be felt deeply
not alone by his wife Mary, daughters Paula and Michelle, son Shaun
and his six grandchildren who were the pride and joy of his life, and
gave him the will to suffer his illness especially over the past six
year, but also by his fellow musicians and entertainers and his unbelievable
loyal followers who loved this gentleman of Irish music.
Born on the 20th July 1945
in Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone, Johnny, the eldest of six children,
three girls and three boys first left Ireland at the age of 19 with
less than £20 in his pocket, like many of his fellow Irishmen
and women before and after him, catching the ferry from Dublin to England.
He settled in Manchester where one evening in the Carousel Club in
Plymouth Grove, he met his future wife Mary, a young lass from Co.
Mayo.
Setting up home in Chorlton, a suburb of Manchester and despite the
fact that financially times were hard soon the patter of little feet
rang around a happy home with the arrival of two girls and one boy,
Michelle, Paula and Shaun.
Like most lads in the show band scene Johnny held down two jobs working
as a civil engineer for John Kennedy working his way up to contracts
manger, and at night time practicing his singing and song writing.
His singing talent was soon discovered by the late Paddy Fearey in
the 1960s and Johnny joined his band doing pubs and clubs in the North
West.
Over the years his singing developed to such an extent that his personal
dream was soon realised when he started his own band known as Johnny
Loughrey and the Countrysiders and on reaching 50 he was able to retire
from the day job at Kennedy’s to pursue a professional career
in singing and with the support of his friend and manager Kevin McCooey
he became one of Irelands favourite singers.
Johnny wrote many of his own songs, produced 11 albums selling in excess
of 500,000 copies plus a video and winning many high profile awards
along the way.
Johnny worked hard all of his life for the benefit of his family and
the love and respect they had for this great husband and father stood
out during his final service in Our Lady and St John’s church
in High
Lane, Chorlton and listening to a beautiful tribute song to Our Lady –“ Ave
Maria – Mother of God”. As his coffin was carried from
the church to his final resting place left few dry eyes.
When Johnny discovered his time was limited he wrote and recorded this
beautiful song using his own money to produce it and dedicated all
proceeds to chosen charities close to his heart.
His final album which he just managed to complete will soon be available
to many loyal fans.
It’s been one of the many pleasures of my life to have known
Johnny Loughrey, my thanks to Paul for all the information supplied.
“Ar dheis de go raibh a h-anam dillis”.
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