A sad day for music

A huge crowd of mourners gathered in Nenagh last week to pay their respects to popular musician Shay Spain, whose untimely death occurred on Friday, May 5.

Shay, of Moanfin, Kilruane and Millview, Toomevara, was synonymous with music in North Tipperary for decades. He played in a great many bands, starting out in the early ’60s with the Reno 5 showband. Having become a proficient drummer, Shay became part of a five-piece teenage band also consisting of Ballina men Pat Mulcahy (vocals), Neill Barry (rhythm guitar), Sean Murphy (bass) and Noel Collins (lead guitar). Austin Durack (Birdhill) later joined on bass and the band went on to recruit a saxophone player in Billy McCarthy from Toomevara. Reno 5 reunited in 2009 and played a few gigs to mark the 40th anniversary of their last performance together.

Shay also drummed in the ’60s for the Slick Six, another popular showband formed by Cloughjordan man Tom Williams (guitarist and vocalist), John Williams (vocalist), Billy Sheppard (guitar), along with Billy McCarthy and Michael Glennon, both saxophone players and both from Ballymackey.

Shay was working as a shop assistant in Lipton’s grocery shop in Nenagh at the time. He recalled earning the same money – £2 – for a few hours of performing with the band as he received for a week’s work in the shop.

The local drummer later went on to join one of Ireland’s best-known and longest-running bands, The Conquerors, with whom he celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2021. He also got into the retail side of music, co-founding popular Nenagh shop The Sounds of Music with his brother Rodge in 1978.

Shay became an inspiration and source of great support to his three sons, David, Alan and Jason, all of whom followed their father into the music world. They also played in a series of bands, perhaps most memorably as Royal Flush. Shay helped to manage the band with performances around the country and abroad, and his experience became all the more valuable when in later years his sons formed highly-regarded tribute band The Irish Pink Floyd. Shay was the tour director and he guided the large ensemble of musicians and their impressive stage-set to gigs all over the country.

In more recent years, the Spain family built on their own performing experience with the establishment of Spain AV, a hallmark audio-visual and stagecraft businesses that has brought concerts to life around Ireland and abroad.

MANY TRIBUTES

News of Shay’s death was greeted with great sadness and his popularity was underlined last week with the many tributes made, among them tributes from musicians and organisers of events from across the country. They included Mick Foster and Tony Allen, Louise Morrissey, and of course The Conquerors.

“It’s a very sad day for The Conquerors and the music business in Ireland,” they wrote on their Facebook page after their dear friend and former bandmate passed away.

“We have many great memories of Shay – we were very fortunate to have had the pleasure of working with him and his sons recently for our 50th birthday celebrations in what can only be described as two fantastic professional productions that couldnt have been made possible without him. We will never forget it!

“During all the years you were always a true gentleman; kind, sincere, but most of all a great friend. You will be sorely missed and never forgotten.”

A tribute on rip.ie from Jim Minogue and family, who were near neighbours of the Spains in Moanfin, told of how Shay’s family were always so generous, a quality that he also carried. “His father Jim was heavily involved with the Kilruane juvenile club, carrying players to training and even county matches in Limerick Gaelic Grounds. The amount of effort involved in hurling practice may have nudged Shay to take up the drum sticks rather than the hurling sticks! May he now be at peace.”

In another one of the many tributes written, Noreen, Ann and Maureen Spain of Whitehall, Kilruane, also mentioned Shay’s generosity and willingness to help in any way that he could. “I’m sure a great drum roll greeted him as he entered the heavenly gates. May his generous soul rest in peace.”

Shay remains much loved and missed by his family – wife Madge, sons David, Alan and Jason, and brothers and sisters Liam, Rodge, Tricia and Mary; his adored grandchildren Lucy, Jack, Séamus, Nia and Daithí; daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, good neighbours and friends. Funeral Mass took place at St Mary of the Rosary in Nenagh last Wednesday followed by burial in the Square Graveyard, Toomevara. RIP.