Raglan Road, Sydney band.

Subject: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Ratskelter
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 09:21 PM

Does anyone have any information on the whereabouts of band members from Raglan Road, a Sydney based folk band who played in the 1980s at the Thurles castle Hotel at Chippendale, Sydney, Australia. They taped two of their original tunes for me during one of their performances - Mandolin Road and O'Shaunessy's Fandango - and I thought they might like copies of the recordings transferred to MP3 format or onto CD. They had intended to record a full CD but broke up as a band only a few weeks away from going into the studio. A great loss. Martin O'Doughety (?) sang and played guitar and Bodhran; Anna Braun, who co-wrote O'Shaunessy's Fandango, played whistle, saxaphone flute and an amazingly fast recorder; Kirsty, played keyboard and violin; the bass player, whose name eludes me, played bass and cello and, I think, upright double-bass and another chap played twelve string acoustic guitar and harmonicas.The two tracks should be available for download through SOULSEEK file share. Well worth a listen.
Any info. would be greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 08:31 AM

Martin Doherty's website

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Ratskelter
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 03:19 AM

Thank you Sandra from Sydney. I have sent an email to the contact for the site and am waitning to 'hear' back. Were you, yourself, aware of the band about which I was inquiring? I assume you have an interest in the folk scene. We live out at Cowra and around here there is very little. The remenants of the Bathurst folk scene; and my own band which is tentatively reforming at the moment. Otherwise, things is crook in tallyrook. My wife and I started a folk music club here in cowra some years back, but with no support from the locals it faded away.What is the situation where you are. theblue mountains seems to be quite healthy; the South Coast somewhat and Queensland seems quite positive, but out here in the central west its pretty grim.
Thanks again for the contact. If there is anything i can help you with in return please ask.
Darryl (Ratskelter).

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Bruce D
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 04:22 AM

Darryl, you are not the only one to start a Folk Club at Cowra, friends of mine either started or help with running one around 1986, that too faded away quickly.

Raglan Road had a Record / cassette out before they broke up, I still have a copy somewhere in my pile of Folk Records.

Bruce D

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Ratskelter
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 05:09 AM

Thanks for the contribution, Bruce.
I'd love to hear just what was on the recording. The band allowed me to record two of their original numbers live at the Thurles Castle way back in the mid 80s. I have treasuredthat tape and have since transferred those recordings onto CD and also uploaded them as MP3s onto the SOULSEEK free file share site.
'O'Shaunessy's Fandango'
'Mandolin Road'
Who were the friends who tried to get the folk club going? Are they still in the area?
You can contact me more directly at [e-mail] OR
at [e-mail]
All this rare music deserves to be preserved. Someday, someone out there with taste and sensitivity will rediscover it - hopefully. I freely share as much rare material as I can. ocassionally there may be some copyright issues, but I believe in the current climate of disregard for the past and for the the wealth of insight and just pleasure that has been accumulated in creativity,the important thing is to preserve what there is left by dispersing it widely and introducing as many people to it as possible.
Anyway, thanks for the input. If yiu could get that music to me somehow I would be very grateful.
Darryl (Ratskelter)

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 06:11 AM

folk in New South Wales we have
'
I went to the launch of Martin's CD 'Many Roads at The Harp in Tempe in 2004 - he was great, so too the support band, but many of the younger members of the audience seemed to be there only to TALK & drink Guinness.

In a slightly inaccessable place I have a tape marked "Raglan Road". I copied it from a friend's record years (decades?) ago & have no idea if it was Martin's record or an Irish LP.

time passes - sandra returns leaving chaos around the slightly inaccessable spot ...

"Raglan Road 30/03/96. copied from 1970s Sony tape - orig copied from record"

It might have been an early 80's Sony tape, my old (folkie) friend & source of old folk records moved away from Sydney then.

tracks

Coal Tattoo
Rambling Irishman
We're Alive
Church St
Blackrock Polka
Fear en bhata
Lachlan Tigers (must be Australian!)
Broom o' Cowden Knowes
A Piper's Prayer
Blackleg miner
The Town I Loved so Well
Sally Free & Easy
Anathea

=========

tracks on Martin's 2004 CD

1. Ludlow Massacre
2. Shearers on the Wallaby
3. Many Roads
4. When I Dream
5. All the years
6. Don't ask me questions
7. My song for you
8. There were roses
9. Someone to love me
10. The coal tattoo
11. They couldn't take the music from your soul
12. Which side are you on?

=================

I've just listed to a scratchy version of Coal Tattoo & am now listening to the CD version - it's probably Martin singing on the tape.

sandra (heading off to fix the chaos)

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jan 11 - 06:13 AM

to continue

we have a number of active folk clubs in Sydney - check out the venues on jam. Date of last performance will show you which ones are closed.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 11 - 09:21 PM

i saw these guys about 5 times in Sydney back in 86/87 (mercantile +union club etc).....they were damn good ..remember mandolin road ...some miners strike song ...dylans love minus zero ..i think and rehearsals for retirement by phil ochs ...thought they were pretty unique at the time

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: JennieG
Date: 23 Nov 11 - 11:07 PM

I remember Raglan Road.....I know they were around in the early 80s.

Ratskelter, I live in Tamworth and there is a dearth of folk music here. Lots of other music - I have joined two choirs - but I haven't unearthed any folk, and I have been here for 18 months. I live in hope......

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:53 AM

Dear Ratskelter

I have a small farm at Koorawatha near Cowra and visit it monthly if possible. I also play and sing folk songs along with my friends in the folk scene.

JennieG and I are both members of the Toongabbie Music Club and you would be most welcome to visit our web site and perform at our meetings, which are held on 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month at the Northmead Scouts Hall 17 Whitehaven Rd Northmead in Sydney, whenever you are in the big smoke.

Allen Davis

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Mick Behan
Date: 24 Sep 12 - 11:49 AM

Raglan Road played every week at the Courthouse Hotel, Taylor Square, Sydney, 1979-1980.

Also sometimes at the Gaelic Club, Devonshire Road, Sydney.

I liked the Bluetongue Bush Band who played around Sydney the same time.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Brian Heywood
Date: 20 Apr 13 - 08:00 PM

Bluetongue are still playing, doing Fairbridge Festival a few years ago and the National this year...

see www.bluetongue.co for more details.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Cruising Paktiya
Date: 20 Jul 13 - 10:13 AM

I remember Raglan Road very well. In those days they had a regular gig in Bondi Junction at the pub on the corner of Birrell St. and Bronte Rd. Great entertainment. They were just about to release an album and had decided to disband if it wasn't a success. Seems it didn't live up to expectations and they disappeared. Too sad.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Denis McKay
Date: 21 Jul 13 - 01:23 AM

Neruda Cuddy seems to be doing well with her folk club at Canowindra- last Sunday of the month at Taste Canowindra. I have played there a few times as I have a "bush retreat"at Canowindra.

I also have the Sydney Raglan Road recording as MP3. I can't for the life of me where I got it from!

Denis in Wollongong and oft-times, Canowindra.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Bruce D
Date: 21 Jul 13 - 02:52 AM

I finally pulled out my copy of the Raglan Road record.

It was a custom printing by EMI (Australia) with the record number of YPRX-1735.

The tracks were
Side 1
1. Coal Tattoo
2. Rambling Irishman
3. We're Alive
4. Church St/Blackrock Polka
5. Fear en bhata
6. Lachlan Tigers
7. Broom o' Cowden Knowes

Side 2
1. Piper's Prayer
2. Blackleg miner
3. The Town I Loved so Well
4. Sally Free & Easy
5. Anathea
6. The Old Triangle

As for the Folk Club in Cowra, It was run by Bob and Kerry Johnson, Kerry was teaching at one of the local schools and Bob was a house husband this would of been around 1985/86. They then went onto run the Shamrock Hotel at Greenthorpe for a couple of years before moving across to to Wollongong

Bruce D

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Jul 13 - 10:44 AM

Gidday, Bruce

It looks like my very old tape lost the last track.

sandra

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Bruce D
Date: 27 Jul 13 - 07:25 PM

Hi Sandra

I have a feeling that Raglan Road also had a privately released cassette tape for sale a few years earlier, but I don't have or recall any details.


Bruce D

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Geoff in Sydney
Date: 08 Aug 13 - 11:04 PM

Raglan Road also made an LP with Tim Connor (aka Noel Flannery) called "32 Irish songs from 32 Irish counties" sometime in the mid-80s. Tim very proudly gave me a copy after it was released, but later took it back to give to another friend who hadn't heard it. He didn't possess a copy himself.

Around this time, Raglan Road were playing Sunday afternoons at Dick's Hotel in Balmain, and later, the White Horse in Surry Hills and the wonderful (greatly missed) Thurles Castle in Chippendale.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Nov 13 - 09:03 PM

I also was a follower of Raglan Road who used to play occasionally at the Mercantile Hotel & every Sunday night at the White Horse in Surrey Hills.
I was a good friend of Martin Doherty & Alan Healy who played as The Gingermen at the White Horse & later in the Merc as Sons of Roisin & later Roisin.

I also have the record Raglan Road by Larrikin Records - Cat No. LRF132.
They recorded "32 Irish Songs from 32 Irish Counties" in 1985 on Castle Music. TC-POP-240328
Sons of Roisin recorded "A Song for Ireland"
Roisin recorded "The Wild Rover"
No details for the last 2 as they were independent recordings by the band.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 01 Dec 13 - 07:46 AM

Roisin also recorded another album entitled The Battling Man (1998???)

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Martin Doherty of Raglan Road
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 03:33 AM

I have only just come across this thread. Raglan Road is planning
a couple of reunion concerts next year. 2015 The original line up
will be performing. If you have any inquires please contact me at
[e-mail] I live in Wallerawang,near Lithgow. Lithgow has a very active Folk Club which meets 1st Sunday of each month @ The
Court House Hotel Lithgow, from 4.00PM till late. I would really
appreciate a copy of Mandoline Road, & O'Shaunacy's Fandango,
if that is possible Darryl.
Many thanks
Martin Doherty

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Sep 14 - 04:56 AM

Martin, will these concerts be in Sydney, the scene of your early triumphs, or elsewhere?

sandra

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Tara, daughter of Martin Doherty.
Date: 08 Mar 15 - 12:26 AM

Raglan Road 28 year reunion concert Saturday 11th July 2015 at PETERSHAM bowling club in SYDNEY. Buy tix at http://trybooking.com/115570.

Hope to see you all there.



Tara

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Peter Russell, Manager
Date: 07 Apr 15 - 09:38 AM

Raglan Road is now doing another concert at the Lithgow Workies on Saturday 4th July...admission free!

Get all the details and updates on our website: raglanroadreunion.com, or just Google "raglan road reunion" and see other posts (eg from Christy Moore) about the concerts and also links to YouTube videos.
Regards,
Peter Russell

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Peter Russell, Manager
Date: 04 Nov 15 - 07:59 AM

Well, what a reunion it was! Not only the band, but with what turned out to be three sell-out concerts, over 700 old fans met again, sang along (because they knew all the words), clapped, yelled "Tar" to the chorus of "Lachlan Tigers", and had a grand old time. The main concert on Saturday 11th. July sold out a month before, so we put on another the following night and it sold out too!
We made a 5 camera video of the Saturday concert that will be released as a DVD in early December. Keep a watch on the website: raglanroadreunion.com for details of how to get the DVD and/or CD of the night.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Norma Logan ( Munro )
Date: 05 Jan 16 - 01:02 PM

I live in Scotland and am a good friend of Kirsty's. We first met when I lived on the Isle of Islay where her grandmother had a house.
We sang and played together in Port Charlotte hotel on Islay and we immediately hit it off. She has been to visit me here on the Scottish mainland where I now live and we exchange Christmas cards each year.
She always puts a newsletter in with her card about what she has been doing and this year she talked a lot about the band's reunion. She said an album has just been released but she hasn't heard it yet. She gave me a solo album of hers at some point when I lived on Islay and I think I gave her one of mine, I'm so glad we have kept in touch.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Jan 16 - 01:11 AM

Peter was selling Raglan Road CDs recently & it's great to listen to the concert again.

sandra

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Peter Russell ( Raglan Road manager from the
Date: 26 Apr 16 - 09:52 AM

The 28 Year Reunion Concert CDs are still selling on the website: raglanroadreunion.com, and the concert DVD will be available at the site from (we hope) mid-May 2016. The DVD is great! Most of the intros, jokes and banter which there wasn't space for on the CD, plus a few extra songs. It's like being there all over again!
Peter Russell

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 17 - 05:30 AM

Is Martin Doherty still doing gigs around Sydney.I was a great fan of The Gingdermen and Raglan Road in the 80's. I was just playing songs from the Dubliners and it reminded me of them.I live in Jakarta but will be in Sydney later in the year.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Sep 17 - 11:32 AM

Martin's contact details from a 2014 post above

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have only just come across this thread. Raglan Road is planning
a couple of reunion concerts next year. 2015 The original line up
will be performing. If you have any inquires please contact me at
[e-mail] I live in Wallerawang,near Lithgow. Lithgow has a very active Folk Club which meets 1st Sunday of each month @ The
Court House Hotel Lithgow, from 4.00PM till late. I would really
appreciate a copy of Mandoline Road, & O'Shaunacy's Fandango,
if that is possible Darryl.
Many thanks
Martin Doherty

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Peter Russell
Date: 04 Oct 19 - 09:42 PM

The Raglan Road website is still active "raglanroadreunion.com". The CD and DVD of the 28 Year Reunion is still available via the website.

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: Bruce D
Date: 06 Oct 19 - 06:01 PM

Hi there Darryl

Sorry for the long wait to your questions in the thread on Raglan Road in Mudcat but I only recently came across the thread again

Thanks for the contribution, Bruce.
I'd love to hear just what was on the recording. The band allowed me to record two of their original numbers live at the Thurles Castle way back in the mid-80s. I have treasured that tape and have since transferred those recordings onto CD and also uploaded them as MP3s onto the SOULSEEK free file share site.
'O'Shaunessy's Fandango'
'Mandolin Road'
Who were the friends who tried to get the folk club going? Are they still in the area?
You can contact me more directly at [e-mail] OR
at [e-mail]
All this rare music deserves to be preserved. Someday, someone out there with taste and sensitivity will rediscover it - hopefully. I freely share as much rare material as I can. ocassionally there may be some copyright issues, but I believe in the current climate of disregard for the past and for the the wealth of insight and just pleasure that has been accumulated in creativity,the important thing is to preserve what there is left by dispersing it widely and introducing as many people to it as possible.
Anyway, thanks for the input. If yiu could get that music to me somehow I would be very grateful.
Darryl (Ratskelter)


My friend were Bob and Kerry Johnson, when they lived in Cowra, Bob was a house husband, and Kerry a Teacher in Cowra, they had move to Cowra as Kerry had gotten a teaching position there, this was in about 1985/86, after a couple of years, they moved to Greenethorpe to run the Hotel there, leaving sometime in 1989/2000 .

Before moving to Cowra, Bob and Kerry run a number of Folk Clubs around Sydney, including ones at the Australia Hotel, Agincourt Hotel, Cat & Fiddle, and at another Hotel in Balmain. They were a pair of mainly shanty singers often singing with Dave Alexander at Festivals round NSW from the late 70’s until they went to England in about 1984/6.

Unluckily I have lost contact with both when they separated. In the 1990’s.

Bruce D

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST,Craig Hawkins
Date: 24 Oct 19 - 07:12 AM

Hi Tara
I was sort of involved with Raglan Road during the 1980s and became a good friend of your fathers. I went to many of their gigs, helped lug the gear and even did a box of mixing at times. I took the bands publicly photos and was there when they recorded their video of “who’ll stop the rain”.
They were wonderful times, and I counted your father as a great friend. We even wrote a song together “the battling man” which he recorded a few years after Raglan split.
I hope he is well. Please pass my best wishes onto him, my email is [e-mail] if you would like to get in touch.
Best regards

Subject: RE: Raglan Road, Sydney band.
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Oct 19 - 07:13 AM

I co-wrote “The Battling Man” with Martin.