The
Royal Blues
Showband

They went to No.1 in the Irish charts in 1966 with 'Old Man Trouble' and released their only L.P., 'In A Country Field' on Pye Golden Guinea in 1969. Following some personnel changes, the band continued as The New Blues with Trina, Nora Larkin, Keith Beatty, Glen Curtin, Carole and Lola fronting the band.

If you would like to write a piece about The Royal Blues, if you can fill any of the spaces in the line-up or if you have a different photo to those on this page, please let us know by clicking on the Contact button below. Comments and memories of friends, band-members and fans will be published on this page.

Related: Pete Brown, Nightrunners, Premier Aces, Buckshot, New Blues

Lead Vocals: Shay O'Hara / Joe Quigley
Lead Guitar: Doc Carroll
2nd Guitar: Brendan Arnold
Bass: Brian Carr
Sax/Clarinet: Frank Gill
Trumpet: Bobby Smith
Trombone: Vincent Gill / Paddy Lynch
Drums: Don Flanagan
Organ/Piano:
Manager: Andy Creighton

Discography (compiled by Eddie Kelly)

Singles (7”/45 r.p.m.)

1965: Love’s Gonna Live Here / Little Rosa – Parlophone DIP 508 (vocals Shay O’Hara and Brendan Arnold)
1966: Old Man Trouble / You Never Know What You’re Missing - Parlophone DIP 508
1966: Far Away From You / I Can’t Go On (Rosalie) – Pye 7N 17166
1966: Santo Natale / Stop The World (And Let Me Off) – Pye 7N 17228 (vocals Shay O’Hara)
1967: There Goes (My Heart Again) / Another Bridge To Burn – Pye 7N 17360
1967: Croce D’oro (Cross Of Gold) / Here’s A Toast To Claddagh – Pye 7N 17401 (vocals Shay O’Hara)
1968: You’ll Come Again To Castlebar / Singing The Blues – Pye 7N 17565 (vocals Frank Gill)
1968: Mountain Of Love / Wishful Thinking – Pye 7N 17670 (vocals Vincent Gill)
1969: Mendocino / Hi Lee Hi Lo – Pye 7N 17732
1969: Proud Mary / Sunny Girl Friend – Pye 7N 17769 (vocals Brian Carr)
1969: High As A Mountain / Wildwood Flower - Pye 7N 17847 (vocals on “High” Brendan Arnold. “Wildwood” guitar instrumental by Doc Carroll)
1971: Slaney Valley / She’s Leaving Town – Release RL 575 (vocals Frank Gill)
1971: Night Runners / Be My Guest – Release RL 586

L.P.s (12” /33.3 r.p.m.)

1969: In A Country Field - Pye Golden Guinea GGL 0449