A popular singer of Irish ballads when traditional music was rarely heard

EILEEN DONAGHY: ONE OF the most popular singers of the 1960s, Eileen Donaghy, has died at her home in Moy, Co Tyrone, at the…

EILEEN DONAGHY:ONE OF the most popular singers of the 1960s, Eileen Donaghy, has died at her home in Moy, Co Tyrone, at the age of 78.

She sang Irish ballads at a time when little music with a traditional Irish flavour could be heard. She sang recognisably Irish songs at a time when most music heard was English or American. Her ballads were not in the classical traditional mould, but her success helped to open a door for other musicians who were able to go further.

Her Northern listeners were cross-community. For the Catholic minority she was particularly important as a sign of recognition. She sang popular Irish songs on BBC Northern Ireland at a time when it was perceived as an off-shoot of the BBC Home Service and a mouthpiece of the unionist regime at Stormont.

Eileen Donaghy was born Mary Josephine McNally in Brackavill, Coalisland, Co Tyrone. Her family always called her Maisie. She was the second of three children and the elder daughter of Hugh Pat McNally and Brigid (née Corey).

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There was music on both sides of the family. Her father played the accordion and her mother and several of the Coreys were well-known singers.

Eileen left school at 14 and worked as a darner in Derryvale weaving factory. She was one of a variety group that performed in local halls, as a tail-end of the music-hall tradition.

Eileen married Tyrone footballer Pat Donaghy. The couple lived for a while in Coalisland, before moving to Pat's home town of Moy. Her big breakthrough was the 1958 Ulster Football Final at Clones where she sang The Boys From the County Armaghto a packed stadium. A record-shop owner from Derry was impressed. He knew talent scout Leslie Mann from Belfast was looking for singers and Mann worked for the Philips recording company. The night her recording contract was announced, she was singing in Derrylaughan Hall.

The record company wanted her to change her name. She agreed to become Eileen, but refused to give up Donaghy. She toured Ireland, Britain, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and made frequent television appearances. She had several hits, including The Homes of Donegal, My Lagan Loveand A Wee Cup of Tay. Her version of My Lagan Lovewas recently named among the 100 best tunes by BBC Radio 2 listeners while her version of The Ould Lammas Fairis still played at that fair in Ballycastle. Her own favourite song was Slieve Gallion Brae, a ballad of emigration from landlord tyranny.

She and Pat had nine children. Her lifestyle was sober, she was devoutly Catholic and a life-long member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association. She was also steeped in Tyrone's other religion of Gaelic football. Son Plunkett and nephew Seán McNally were both on the first Tyrone team to reach an All-Ireland Final in 1986. A second son, Colm, also played for Tyrone.

Her husband Pat died in 1991. Her last public performance was in July, when she sang at the opening of the Tyrone County Fleadh Ceoil in Moy. She sang in her parish choir till recently.

She is survived by her children Liam, Colm, Plunkett, Seán, Paul, Maura (Wallace), Patricia and Catherine, and her sister Sally Gervin.

• Mary Josephine (Eileen) Donaghy (née McNally); born July 16th, 1930; died October 27th, 2008.