VAL DOONICAN

[john]

I have enjoyed Val's music for many years, and remember very well watching his television shows in the late seventies/eightiies on a Saturday night, sorry, can't remember much before that as I am far too young (ha, ha). But seriously, he had some super songs like THE SPECIAL YEARS and IF THE WHOLE WORLD STOPPED LOVING, and some wonderful Irish comedy songs such as DELANEYS'S DONKEY. I think Matt guested on a number of his shows and he also had many other international stars such as Perry Como, Nana Mouskouri and I think enen Bing Crosby appeared. I went to see Val about 12 years ago in Oldham, Lancashire, and I remember people taking the mick because I was only about 23 at the time, but he put on a brilliant show and really enjoyed it. He has a dvd out, originally released on vhs a few years ago, where he revisits his old haunts in Ireland.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Hi John, we discussed Val a while back, but his laid back style of singing was similar to Perry Como, and apart from singing he began his career in Ireland as an accomplished player of the banjo guitar and mandolin.
As far as we know, it's some time now since he has appeared on radio or TV.

[jon]

I used to enjoy watching Val's programmes on the BBC; they were quite "comforting". He had a nice baritone voice. His song "Elusive Butterfly" was covered by Johnny Mathis. I beleive he's now about 79 years old.

[michduncg]

I think I mentioned a while back that he was interviewd on the Johnny Walker show sometime this summer, and I was a little confused over some lyrics. Used to love his Ireish Folk songs as well - 'Denny o Raffertys motor car', 'Delaneys Donkey', 'Paddy McGintees Goat', 'The driver was leprachaun' and one other track with some Gaelic title, that refers to the 'schoolmaster blind drunk on the floor'!