Network: CBC Television Network
Broadcast Run: 1974
Broadcast Medium: Television
Aired Saturday nights during the summer of 1974.
This half hour music show was produced in St. John’s, Newfoundland. It starred Tommy Makem, a familiar singer on CBC television,as either a solo artist or with the Clancy Brothers. That group had established themselves in the 1960s with a series of recordings of folk tunes and Celtic favourites.
Ryan’s Fancy, which consisted of Dermot O’Reilly, Fergus O’Byrne and Denis Ryan, also recorded and performed with Makem. They later starred in their own network show [See Ryan’s Fancy].
This show had a pub setting, and featured Irish music and what may have been beer. The repertoire also included Maritime and Scottish songs, and frequent guests included Catherine McKinnon and Peter Browne.
Makem went on to host television programs produced by PBS and the BBC. In 2000, the first annual Tommy Makem International Festival of Song debuted in Ireland.
Written by John Corcelli – September, 2005