I was a founder member of the Young Vikings in Dundalk in 1963. Started off as a Rock Group called The Hellions. First gig was in Ballymascanlon Hotel, Dundalk 1963.

When the Tornadoes (I think) broke up, the sax player, Con Dullohan and the trumpet player, Billy Coyle, joined with the Hellions and the Vikings was born in 1964.

Later due to a band in Carlow also called the Vikings we changed our name to The Young Vikings. The manager was Charlie ? We played a lot in the West of Ireland and had a regular monthly gig in Barry's Hotel in Dublin. In my colour photo the two lads in the centre were in the second line up after the Dunnes left. I don't know their names. I moved shortly after that to Dublin.

The band went through more lineups after that and I lost touch. In your photo of The Toronto, there are some members from The Young Vikings there also, Pat O'Hare (extreme left) on bass was a former member of The Hellions and The Young Vikings.

by Richie Donaghue