Joe Dolan

1939-2007

In loving memory of Joe Dolan who passed away on December 26th 2007. Joe was a Superstar, a wonderful singer with an amazing voice. He will never be forgotten,especially in Ireland

About Joe

Name: Joe Dolan
From: Mullingar, Westmeath, Ireland
Age: 68 years old
Most likely to say: Howaya

Parents:

Patrick and Ellen

Offer Condolences

Music

Song Title:How Great Thou Art
Music by the O'Neill Brothers www.pianobrothers.com

Candles

Tuesday, March 09, 2010, 12:02:49 AM From olive delaney: "you will always be with me wherever i go and will always be on my mind rest in peace my dearest friend joe."
Friday, February 19, 2010, 10:22:22 PM From Patricia Mc Guire: "Joe from 60s to the day God called you home,I watched as you grew in popularity,but it didnt change you,you were as you wanted a people's man,and i loved you for that, missing you more than words can say, Patricia xx"
Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 12:04:43 AM From Geraldine Hegarty: "I used to look so forward to your gigs - miss you Joe - You were Simply the Best - You are now the shining star in Heaven"
Friday, January 01, 2010, 12:53:56 AM From Jackie N.: "Happy New Year Joe, with all my love to you.Thank you for all the lovely memories that will live with me forever.God bless you Joe. Love you and miss you always and forever Joe.XXXXXX ."
Sunday, December 27, 2009, 11:46:54 PM From Jackie N.: "Joe, not a day goes by that I don't think about you, as you are always in my mind and in my heart. Loved and remembered everyday. God bless you Joe, and thank you for all the beautiful music. XXX"
Saturday, December 26, 2009, 10:35:15 PM From Janet Cook: "Heaven took my favourite singer 2 years ago today and left an empty space in my heart. Miss you Joe. Love Janet"
Friday, December 25, 2009, 9:24:18 PM From Geraldine Hegarty: "Thinking of Joe with love on his Anniversary RIP"
Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 6:08:10 PM From Eileen O'Callaghan: "Happy Christmas Joe. Stay safe with the Angels. Miss you, God bless. XX"
Sunday, October 18, 2009, 12:02:31 AM From Jackie N.: "Joe, thank you for all the wonderful shows. You were pure "Endless Magic".Love you & miss you always & forever Joe.XXXXXX"
Saturday, October 17, 2009, 5:25:17 PM From kate mclaughlin: "Happy 70th Joe! I often think of you, and every time I hear your songs they bring me so much happiness."
Friday, October 16, 2009, 12:00:16 PM From Geraldine Hegarty: "Wishing you a very happy 70th Joe and thinking of all the Dolans and the band xx"
Friday, October 16, 2009, 6:39:07 AM From Bernadette Cowzer: "Wishing you a very happy 70th birthday Joe. Stay safe in the arms of Jesus. Missing you. xxx"
Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 12:30:31 AM From noella seguin: "joe, your wonderful voice brought great joy to me, I am lighting a candle in your memory joe, rest in peace."
Monday, September 07, 2009, 11:14:28 PM From josie kenna: "rest in peace dear joe,always only a thought away sleep well love josie xxx"
Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 8:34:06 PM From Geraldine Hegarty: "RIP Joe and thank you for your music x"
Saturday, August 15, 2009, 5:51:06 PM From Eileen Milligan: "Just came across this website and am lighting a candle in memory of you Joe and in thanksgiving for sharing your wonderful voice with us."
Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 8:23:19 AM From Kathleen M'Intyre: "I was listening to you sing on the radio this morning. It brought back such happy memories. Rest in Peace Joe."
Wednesday, April 01, 2009, 4:53:57 PM From Eileen O'Malley: "Joe, your wonderful voice brought such joy to my life. Among the angels now you sing!"

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This memorial page was created by Joe McGuiggan

Life Story

Joe was born in Mullingar in 1939, the youngest of eight children. He summed up his happy childhood "We didn't have much but we didn't want for much. We were happy where we were and happy with our lot." Music had always been a feature of the Dolan family, encouraged by their mother. His father died when he was 11 and his mother when he was 19. As teenagers, Joe and his brother Ben sang and played instruments, and before long were playing and winning talent contests. He started his official musical career in 1960 when he and Ben formed The Drifters showband.

Success quickly followed and he and his band became immensely popular in Ireland during the showband era. He was the first pop star to make it big outside of Ireland He had a string of hits in every decade from the sixties onwards. Some of the best known were "Make me an Island", "Its You Its You" and "Sweet Little Rock 'n 'Roller". He was a world superstar, immensely popular throughout Europe, Africa, Australia, South America and eventually Russia and USA. However success never went to his head and he always made time for his devoted fans in Ireland.

He wasn't afraid to try new musical directions and in the late '90s he had two successful cover albums of contemporary artists such as Blur Oasis, U2, Springsten and REM.

After a hip operation in 2004, touring took a heavy toll on Joe's health. In the last three months of 2007, his health deteriorated quite rapidly. He suffered a brain haemorrhage at Christmas and passed away peacefully on St. Stephen's Day surrounded by his family and friends.

The massive turnout for Joe's funeral reflected the esteem in which he was held throughout Ireland.

Joe and his music will live on in the memories of this and future generations. Over 10,000 fans gathered for a weekend of celebration of Joe in the summer of 2008. A life sized statue of Joe was unveiled by Irish prime minister, Brian Cowen, in his home town of Mullingar.

Also in 2008, an excellent biography, "Joe Dolan, The Official Biography" by Ronan Casey, was published by Penguin Ireland, ISBN 978-1-844-88196-3

Joe is survived by his brothers Ben, Paddy, and Vincent, and his sisters Dympna and Imelda.

Milestones

1939: Joe's birth Christened Joseph Francis Dolan, Joe's birth caused great excitement among family and neighbours.
1950: Education Joe attended St. Mary's Secondary School and the local Technical College in Mullingar. Considered a good pupil at both.
1956: Starts work Joe's mother got him started in the Westmeath Examiner where he worked his way up to the position of compositor. He left in 1962, to devote himself completely to his beloved music.

1959: Ellen's death Just as life was becoming more comfortable for Ellen, with Joe and Ben's band careers taking off, and extra money coming into the house, she suffered a stroke and passed away on the 16th January. Joe was heartbroken at the loss of a mother who had shown him such love, and made so many sacrifices to encourage his music. His biggest regret was that she never got to hear him play.
1960: The Drifters Music continued to exert a strong pull on Joe, especially with the arrival of rock'n'roll and in 1960 he and his brother Ben decided to form their own band which they called The Drifters. They reckoned they couldn't call themselves The Dolans! Within a year he and his band were the talk of the land.
1963: Manager Seamus Casey appointed as full time manager of the band, cementing a relationship which lasted a life time. Joe was to say of Seamus later " Seamus made the difference as his arrival got the whole thing moving. From day one Seamus steered us. If you didn't have a fella with a bit of foresight or vision you wouldn't have lasted."
1964: Lift Off The band needed a hit record and they got one when "The Answer to Everything" propelled them to No. 4 in the Irish charts, a fantastic achievement for a first single. A fan club was started. Seamus Casey signed a deal with Albert and Jim Reynolds for the band to play in their chain of ballrooms. In 1966 they had their first No. 1 with "Pretty Brown Eyes" which pushed The Beatles "Yellow Submarine" off the top position.
1968: Swing Time Ireland swung with the Westmeath Bachelor!
1969: Joe International "Make Me An Island" went to Number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, and Number 1 in fourteen other countries, including Ireland of course.
1970: Vicious Assault Joe did extensive touring of the UK in the early 70's. Promoters wanted him on his own but he enjoyed bringing back new musical arrangements for the band at home.He was seriously beaten following a concert in Liverpool and had to cancel a number of shows. It affected him badly.
1974: Rock 'n' Roller "Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller" was the first of a string of hits in the 70's. "Lady in Blue" sold 1 million copies throughout Europe.
1978: Big in Russia Joe was the first Western Artist to tour extensively in Russia. He discovered that thousands of young people had been listening to his music 'underground', as Western pop music had been frowned on by the Communist party. They knew all the words of the songs!
1980: Las Vegas Joe appeared as the main act in The Silverbird Hotel in Las Vegas. He was so popular that the following year he did an extended six week run. He was offered a six month's residency but turned it down as the international stage was becoming a treadmill and he wanted to spend more time at home. He was able to use his experience from Vegas to change the format of his concerts in Ireland. He gave up performing in dance halls, instead playing theatre type venues, and became immensely popular again. There was no show like a Joe show! More hits followed.
1990: Gable Records Being based in Ireland allowed Joe the time ot record more. He set up his own record label, Gable Records and also built his own recording studio in Mullingar.
1994: Dustin Joe's duets with Dustin the Turkey keep him cool with the younger generation.
1997: Endless Magic With the hit album "Endless Magic Joe became the the only Irish singer ever to have had Top 10 hits in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. A full programme of 'The Late Late Show' was devoted to him.
2000: 21st Century Joe Joe kicked off the new millennium with a successful covers album of pop and rock classics.
2004: Hip Replacement In 2004 Joe had a successful hip replacement but was off the road for almost a year.
2007: Exhaustion In the autumn of 2007 Joe had to cancel some of his concerts due to exhaustion, a decision which caused him great distress. He was forced to cancel his entire Christmas tour and on St. Stephen's Day was rushed from his home to the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin following a worsening of his illness. He died of a brain haemorrhage later that day. Joe's funeral reflected the esteem in which he was held. Over 10,000 people turned up for the removal of his remains on 28th December. Thousands more waited at the Cathedral, and a standing ovation greeted his remains as they entered the church. On December 29th Joe was laid to rest.
2008: Joe's Life The Joe Dolan Official Biography was launched at The Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar on Nov 6th 2008. In December, thousands flocked to the town for the unveiling of a life size statue of Joe by An Taoiseach Mr. Brian Cowen.

Shared Memories

first dance roseland ballroom moate from ann kinahan

joe the memories i have of you is that wonderful night in moate and all the carnivals. you may be gone but you will never be forgotten. rest in peace joe your voice was magic, heaven is a happy place now with you there to enterain everyone.

Joe Dolan from Eileen Lawson

Thinking of you today as always, but especially on your birthday. We all have wonderful memories of you that will stay with us forever. You made this world a better place. RIP Joe - You were the BEST x x

joe's song from josie kenna

You were the music that made the world sing. Your loveliness, your beauty, and everything, you were the rhythm that beats in our hearts, now your passing has torn us apart, but the harmony you gave us will never die, It will grow stronger and stronger as time passes by.you came into our lives like some sweet melody,though joe you did not live very long the world will never forget joes song. love josie xx

never let me down from joe o neill

joe came and played poker with me for the day to help raise money for a charity i was involved in.. ended up on the beer.. late night had by all .. the following night joes voice went on stage.. i got the blame for leading joe astray..(trust me it was not hard)

A true legend from Bill Cleary

Joe and I shared many a happy few hours when he visited the Galty in London, and even before that at the pub which he and Ben opened back in 1980. No words could describe Joe, the only one that comes anyway near would be a star, even Joe did not realize how big a star he truly was. Not only Ireland, but vast areas of the world over, will miss his velvet voice and welcoming smile, that would put a Hollywood actor to shame. Truly a man of the people and one of only a few that can honestly be called a legend.

SYMPATHY. from JOHN AND BRID MC DONAGH

SINCERE SYMPATHY TO ALL THE DOLAN FAMILY.REMEMBER ALL THE GREAT NIGHTS IN THE RHU GLEN,WATERFORD.GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN. JOHN AND BRID MC DONAGH,WATERFORD.

An embarrassing moment from Geraldine Hegarty

I remember one night Joe was playing in the Victor Hotel Dun Laoghaire - as usual Ger was in the front row at the stage with my hands in the air in awe of my hero when Frankie the trumpet player was laughing down at me and pointing down - The boob-tube I was wearing had slipped down !! I nearly died - pulled it up
and carried on clapping !! Keep singing with the Angels Joe RIP Ger xxxxxxx

Joe and Aimee from Frances Mc Keown

My treasured memory of Joe is when he used to take my daughter Aimee up on stage to sing with him at most of his shows. She was 6 when it all started she is 16 now and loves Joe to bits, she misses all the craic and more than anything she misses joe. R.I.P. Joe Luv u Lots.xxxxxxxxxxx

Our Star in Heaven from Geraldine Hegarty

As Joe's song , one of my favourite, says "If I could put my life on paper" my best bits would be my several nights around the country at Joes gigs.
As soon as he would be escorted onto the stage by Denis I was gone !!! My night would be taken over by JOE !!!
God Rest your beautiful soul, Joe - miss you so much; RIP.
Geraldine xxxxxxxxx

A GREAT SEND OFF! from Paula Gillespie

A Ryan Confidential Special.

Bachelor Galore from Mary Gallagher

The West Meath Bachelor.

Goodbye Venice Goodbye! from In Loving Memory

So Poignant!

Photo Gallery

A Young Joe.Gentleman in red.It's me, it's me, it's me!Moving with the times.Benda & Joe.Always Mr. Cool!Joe & Paul Brady.Colin Farrell, Joe & Gerry Ryan.Going home.Facing Podge & Rodge!Bundoran Music Festival 2002Shane McGowan & JoeGetting ready for imortality.Unveiled & forever in Mullingar.Close up