Friends to perform concert in memory of Carrick-on-Suir showbands singer Liam Dwyer

A concert in memory of former showband lead singer and former Carrick-on-Suir councillor, Liam Dwyer, who passed away last Christmas, is being organised by a group of musicians who shared a stage with him during his long career.

Tickets are now on sale for the Liam Dwyer Memorial Concert that will take place in the Carraig Hotel in Carrick-on-Suir on Friday, September 8 at 8pm.

The concert is being organised by Tony Egan, who accompanied Liam for many years on keyboards, former leader of the Garda Band Billy Byrne and former Miami Showband guitarist Stephen Travers, who were all great friends of Liam. 

The concert will feature performances from Tony, Billy and Stephen as well as a host of other musician and singer friends, many of whom performed alongside during his music career. They include Gay Brazel, Gerry Walsh, Maria O’Shea-Enright, John O’Connor, Pat O'Donnell, Richie Nugent, Shamie O'Brien and friends. 

The Marveltones Showband, including some of the above artists, will have the concert crowd dancing the night away.  Another highlight of the night will be the screening of a video about Liam’s musical career and life made by Willie Hartery. 

Liam passed away on December 28 last year just six months after the launch of his CD of folk, country and pop songs called Heartfelt that he recorded in Gay Brazel’s studio in Carrick-on-Suir. Two of the songs Liam sang on the CD were composed by Stephen Travers.  

Heartfelt will be on sale at the memorial concert.  Dementia Ireland was Liam’s chosen charity to benefit from the proceeds of the CD’s sales and the concert’s organisers have chosen it to be also one of the beneficiaries of the show’s proceeds. The concert will also be in aid of  Carrick-on-Suir Day Care Centre.  

Retired Garda Band leader Billy Byrne said the concert was an occasion to commemorate Liam’s musical legacy and his life through all the people he performed with during his long career. “There will be a lot of stories told and good natured banter on the night,” he told The Nationalist. 

He pointed out that tickets for the concert can be purchased on the door on the night. 

Due to the great public interest in the event, tickets are also on sale beforehand from the reception of the Carraig Hotel and through Carrick Davins GAA Club, which Liam had a long and proud association with. Tickets can also be purchased directly from Billy Byrne by contacting him at (086) 346 1387