Mayoral reception in Clonmel celebrates 50 years of Gina & The Champions

Caption for photo above:  Members of Gina & The Champions with the Mayor of Clonmel and Clonmel Borough District councillors at the mayoral reception. Pictured from left are: Mossey Walsh, Gerry Hennebry, Cllr Michael Murphy, Tony Hornibrook, Mayor Cllr Richie Molloy, Gina, Cllr John Fitzgerald, Tony Hornibrook’s daughter Jean, Eddie Fitzgerald and Pat Walsh

A mayoral reception was accorded to the popular Gina & The Champions band in Clonmel Town Hall in honour of the group’s 50 years of bringing joy to their legions of fans through their music.

Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Richie Molloy hosted the reception for the band’s members that was also attended by about 30 family, friends and fans on Thursday, December 7. Fans and friends of the group travelled from as far as Cork, Bray and Wexford for the occasion.

Gina & The Champions is known as a Cork band but it has two south Tipperary based members. They are drummer Tony Hornibrook, a native of east Cork, who has lived in Clonmel for nearly 50 years, and Gerry Hennebry from Kilsheelan, who is the group’s roadie.

Lead singer Gina performed at the reception to the delight of all present. She sang a beautiful version of Tipperary’s anthem “Slievenamon” and one of the highlights of the evening was Cllr John Fitzgerald joining her in singing the Jimmy McCarthy song, “The Contender”.

The Mayor welcomed the band’s members Gina (real name Mary Hurley), Mossey Walsh, Eddie Fitzgerald, Gina’s husband Pat Walsh and particularly the two locally based members Tony Hornibrook and Gerry Hennebry. He paid tribute to Gina & The Champions for bringing  joy through music and dance to the hearts of many for over 50 years, 

Cllr Molloy said he was delighted to hear about the group’s special anniversary tour at a host of venues across Ireland and wished them many more years of success.

Tony Hornibrook thanked the Mayor and council for honouring the band with a mayoral reception.

“It was a lovely night and great fun and the mayor said a lovely few words,” said Tony, who lives in Cherrymount, Clonmel and has lived in the town since marrying Baron Park native Helen O’Keeffe in the 1970s. Tony, who hosted a popular evening music show on Tipp FM for many years, was very impressed with Cllr John Fitzgerald’s duet with Gina.

“He was brilliant and there is a video going around of him singing. He used to see the band in our early days performing in Dundrum on New Year's Eve. He can always say now he sang with Gina.”

Tony has been a member of the band since its formation in 1973.

Three years ago the group’s male lead singer Dale Haze (real name Jerdie Mackey) from Kilmacthomas in county Waterford passed away and he is dearly missed by Tony and all the band’s members.

“He was a magnificent singer and we miss him very much. We mention Dale every night we perform.”

Tony and his bandmates brought along to the mayoral reception the triple CD collection they produced for their 50th birthday year called: “Gina & The Champions: 50 Songs for 50 Years”.

The band will play the final gig in their 50th anniversary tour at the Charleville Park Hotel in Charleville, county Cork this Friday, December 29.

Check out more photos from the mayoral reception in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops.