Way back in God knows when Al O'Donnell lived on my street in Dublin and when he had his first single "Sammy's Bar" on the go whenever he'd go by we ask him to "Give us a bar Sammy".
My late brother Dik on hearing our remarks brought us all to see him and we joked no more he was great on stage and that bannjo that we used to see him luging around was magic.
I remember Al O'Donell singing Sammy's Bar in the Atlanta Hotel in Galway in the early 70s. His voice was of the same high natural quality as Luke Kelly but he never got much recognition. If anyone has more of his music I would love to hear it.
I' sure you know that you know he had 2 albums and he used also did fillers for RTE [he used work there] and I know one or two of them are on RTE albums
This is from around 62/63. I heard Al live many times when he was young. He was sensational, spell binding and his Spanish Lady usually brought the house down. He seemed to just walk away from singing for a long time.
As far as I can remember he predated the Dubliners. This is not Al at his best but if its all we have then I am greatful for it.
It appears he is still performing. I would love to hear his latest stuff.
YES FOLKS THE ALBUM'S IN........... AND WILL BE FOR SALE AT THE GIG. WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU ALL. THE ALBUM WILL BE IN RECORD SHOPS FROM NOVEMBER 24TH AND AVAILABLE ON ITUNES IN THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER. NIALL TONER PREVIEWED THE ALBUM TO MUCH ACCLAIM ON THE 'ROOTS FREEWAY' SHOW ON RTE RADIO1 LAST NIGHT (11 Nov 2008)
i feel i have to thank you and at once sound ungrateful.this is,i fear,an example of al at too early a stage.his singing of songs like "the yellow bittern"and "the granemore hare" are what i had in mind when i praised him so highly. thanks again though.
Great footage nice singing and good playing on the banjo - that banjo looks biger than the one Tommy Makem and Segger play(ed) and much bigger thant that of Barney McKennans or even Luke Kelly's
This has been flagged as spam show
Great! Thanks for posting.
BardofCornwall 1 year ago
Fiachras grandad or something!!!! :D
guitarist0123 1 year ago
Al is unique ...don't think he ever went full time ..he worked in RTE ..he was part of the early ballad revival around Dublin .
Lisnageeragh 1 year ago
Way back in God knows when Al O'Donnell lived on my street in Dublin and when he had his first single "Sammy's Bar" on the go whenever he'd go by we ask him to "Give us a bar Sammy".
My late brother Dik on hearing our remarks brought us all to see him and we joked no more he was great on stage and that bannjo that we used to see him luging around was magic.
Long time ago thanks for the memory
padraigpurseal 2 years ago 4
I remember Al O'Donell singing Sammy's Bar in the Atlanta Hotel in Galway in the early 70s. His voice was of the same high natural quality as Luke Kelly but he never got much recognition. If anyone has more of his music I would love to hear it.
TheODubhthaigh 2 years ago
I' sure you know that you know he had 2 albums and he used also did fillers for RTE [he used work there] and I know one or two of them are on RTE albums
padraigpurseal 2 years ago
Thanks for that a Phadraig.
TheODubhthaigh 2 years ago
Let me know how you get on
Slan Tamaill
padraigpurseal 2 years ago
This is from around 62/63. I heard Al live many times when he was young. He was sensational, spell binding and his Spanish Lady usually brought the house down. He seemed to just walk away from singing for a long time.
As far as I can remember he predated the Dubliners. This is not Al at his best but if its all we have then I am greatful for it.
It appears he is still performing. I would love to hear his latest stuff.
raphael2176 3 years ago 2
it's 1966. He launch a new CD last year. He is singing another one called The Bold Grenadier, that i uploaded. thanks for the comment.
machree01 3 years ago
AL O' Donnell
CD Launch and Gig
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28TH 2008
THE COBBLESTONE, SMITHFIELD, DUBLIN
8PM
ADM..............FREE
YES FOLKS THE ALBUM'S IN........... AND WILL BE FOR SALE AT THE GIG. WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU ALL. THE ALBUM WILL BE IN RECORD SHOPS FROM NOVEMBER 24TH AND AVAILABLE ON ITUNES IN THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER. NIALL TONER PREVIEWED THE ALBUM TO MUCH ACCLAIM ON THE 'ROOTS FREEWAY' SHOW ON RTE RADIO1 LAST NIGHT (11 Nov 2008)
MacheteMick 3 years ago
best banjo player i have ever heard...perfect...
Evil70rK 3 years ago
Great banjo break at the end.
30th aug 2008.
The Cobblestone,
Smithfield,
Dublin...Al O'Donnell.
LIVE!
cheyennecrazyhorse 3 years ago
Is it just my eyes - that lady doesn't look very Spanish????
gopherjustice 3 years ago
i feel i have to thank you and at once sound ungrateful.this is,i fear,an example of al at too early a stage.his singing of songs like "the yellow bittern"and "the granemore hare" are what i had in mind when i praised him so highly. thanks again though.
ramqen951 3 years ago 3
Great footage nice singing and good playing on the banjo - that banjo looks biger than the one Tommy Makem and Segger play(ed) and much bigger thant that of Barney McKennans or even Luke Kelly's
DaraghPhelan 3 years ago 2
fantastic sounds so familiar did the dubs and wee barney mckenna do that tune
howdofolks 3 years ago 2
yes, The Dubliners {1975} also sung it. thanks for commenting Mick.
machree01 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Its a load of pish
scotsmanuk111 3 years ago