Play It Again Paddy presents a light-hearted journey through the recent past of Drogheda’s social & musical history. It provides a snapshot of some of the town’s finest orchestras, showbands and groups, from the 1940s through to the 1970s. It includes profiles of some of Ireland’s nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians most of whom the author has enjoyed sharing a stage with during the course of his career.

The book follows the writer and his friends through the exciting era of the 1950s & ‘60s, a wonderful time to be in the music industry. Most of the musicians were semi-professional, as was the author, and were obliged to hold down a day-job as well as play into the early hours of the morning.

Some of the showbands & orchestras featured in the book include:

The Flying Carlton Orchestra Joe Hal’s Band Pat Jackson Orchestra The Gate Cinema Orchestra The Astoria Orchestra The Adelphi Orchestra The Kay Martin Band The Stephen McCann Orchestra The Silver Seven The Eldorado Showband The Checkmates Showband Dermot O'Brien & The Clubmen The Mountaineers The Cyril Jolley Trio The Denver Showband The Jim Carton Group The Cotton Mill Boys The Martin Showband The Heartbeats The Roadrunners The Trolls The Toppers Showband The Chancellors Showband The Louis Smith Orchestra The Bee Vee Five The Delta Boys Showband The Dubliners The Cluskey Hopkins Guinness Jazz Group The Tigermen Showband The Jubilee Orchestra The Chancellors Showband The Underworld The City Showband The Barleycorn The Prefects The Sonna Boys The Glenn Miller Legacy The New Sound The Lads Again The Carlton All Stars The Drogheda Musical Society The Ravens The Arrows Drogheda Brass & Reed Band The Comet Tones The Marksmen Tracks Reunion The Pantomime Orchestra Zounds The Munster Family Accordian Band - 1936 The City Showband Swiss Trio Redwood The Square Penny The Blue Beats El Companeros The Boston Showband