Sadness at death of renowned Mayo musician
Vincent was laid to rest on Friday, December 27th, in Kilternan Cemetery Park, Ballycorus Road, Kilternan after Requiem Mass in the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Churchview Road, Killiney.
Vincent Gill, formerly of Murneen, who died peacefully on December 22nd, was a member of The Royal Blues, one of the most successful showbands to come out of the West of Ireland.
The band was founded in the early 1960s in Claremorris by Andy Creighton, who went on to become a very influential figure in the showband scene. The band also included Vincent’s brother Frank, and two vocalists, Martin ‘Doc’ Carroll and Shay O’Hara, amongst others. The band was formed when four members of Pete Brown's Band of Renown from Kiltimagh left to strike out on their own.
The Blues catapulted to fame in 1966 with the release of ‘Old Man Trouble’, a song written by Jerry Smith and originally recorded by Fats Domino two years previously. The song reached number one in the Irish charts and was their biggest hit.
The Blues played at the opening of Claremorris Town Hall in the summer of 1969, and many times thereafter during the heyday of the dancehall scene. They were back again 25 years later at an anniversary dance and Vincent made an appearance in the Hall in 2019 for the 50th anniversary of its opening.
Vincent, who also spent a while in band management, was from a very musical family. Along with his brother Frank, who was in the band with him, another brother, John, now deceased, played locally. His nephew Seamus Sammon, from Knock, who is also deceased, fronted a local band Rolled Gold in the 1980s.
Vincent passed on December 22nd surrounded by his family and in the exceptional care of the staff at Blackrock Hospice. He was the dearly beloved husband and best friend of Joan, much loved and devoted father of Ronan and Paul, and loving granddad to the late Oisín. Vincent will be sadly missed by his loving wife, sons, daughter-in-law Gráinne, three grandchildren, his sister Teresa, brother-in-law Thomas, sisters-in-law Mary, Ann and Pam (England), nephews, nieces, relatives, friends and neighbours.
Vincent was laid to rest on Friday, December 27th, in Kilternan Cemetery Park, Ballycorus Road, Kilternan after Requiem Mass in the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Churchview Road, Killiney.
May he rest in peace.
