They were a staple part of the musical diet around Galway during the 1980’s and 1990’s – and now the Golden Arrows are making a comeback for one last time…20 twenty years after they last struck a note together.
The Golden Arrows formed in 1981 with Josie Moran, Francie O’Loughlin, Martin Connors and Pat Gilchrist. During the course of the early years members Carmel Dempsey joined for a time and then later by Rita Connors.
The Golden Arrows became very popular in the pubs and dancehalls around Loughrea and all over Co Galway and North Clare with Francie, Josie, Martin and Rita until 1991.
In 1991, Ollie Moran (keyboard and vocals) and Ollie Fahy (accordion) joined to relaunch the Golden Arrows with the original band members of Josie Moran (fiddle) and Francie O’Loughlin (drums and vocals).
They remained together until 1998 – but now 20 years on, the Golden Arrows are set to take to the stage for a night of reunion in the Loughrea Hotel & Spa on Saturday, February 3, at 9pm.
They will be supported by Tailors Twist, Class Act and Keystrings and several members from other bands in the area – as well as members of Kilnadeema Comhaltas – for what promises to be a night of entertainment, dance and nostalgia.
The concert is being organised by band member Ollie Fahy, in aid of Gorta Africa Self Help Projects – because this April, Ollie will be part of a group of 14 to travel to Zambia as part of a ten-day trip with the Alan Kerins African Projects.
In just over a decade, the former Galway dual star and his volunteers have raised close to €5 million to end poverty and suffering of tens of thousands of people in rural Southern Africa.
“The projects I will be involved in are all based on the Gorta Self Help projects based in Zambia and all aiming to alleviate poverty and developing self-sustaining projects,” explained Ollie.
See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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