Seamus and JCB still going strong after 40 years

A presentation to mark 40 years in the entertainment industry was made to Seamus Moore by Tommy Maher in the Esker Inn, Tyrrellspass, on Sunday evening.

Seamus, who is in his late 70s, is a regular performer in the Esker Inn and other venues around the country and abroad and is popular with young and old.

He first came to fame in 1987 when his composition The JCB Song won a talent competition and went on to sell 50,000 copies. He has since released several albums of his catchy ditties including The Transit Van, My Little Honda 50 and The Garda Car.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner after the presentation, Tommy Maher from Tyrrellspass said he first met Seamus 20 years ago when he was working in London. “He is a Kilkenny man but his mother was from Moate, so that’s probably where he gets his singing from,” Tommy said.

He spoke of all Seamus did for the Irish community in London when he was a publican there, promoting singers and bands. “Foster and Allen actually played in his pub, The Castle in North London, for £50 one Sunday afternoon when they were getting going,” Tommy said.

Seamus has played in The Galtymore in London and in Yonkers in New York and he performs in Lanzarote every January.

“He’s been a friend of mine for over 20 years; he played at my high 18th, my 21st and my 30th, and hopefully he’ll make it to my 40th, Tommy said. He also played at the opening of Tommy’s bar, Maher’s Irish Bar in Greenford, London.

“It’s great that he’s celebrating 40 years in the Irish music business, which is a great achievement, especially for a man that’s coming up to 80 years of age.”