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A series of events has been organised this Thursday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Miami Showband massacre, one of the worst and most high profile incidents of The Troubles.
The Miami were an extremely popular pop band in the 1960's and 70's, playing the circuit, the length and breadth of Ireland during the heyday of the Showband scene. They were formed in the early 1960's and were based in Dublin. By 1975 the band consisted of 6 members Tony Geraghty, Des Lee, Brian McCoy, Ray Miller, Fran O'Toole and Stephen Travers.
On July 31st 1975 three members of the Miami were murdered on the A1 at Buskhill near Donaghmore just outside Newry, on their way home from a gig in Banbridge. A bogus army checkpoint had been set up by uniformed men consisting of UVF members several who were serving UDR soldiers. Band members Fran O'Toole, Brian McCoy and Tony Geraghty were all shot dead at the scene. Two other people, Harris Boyle and Wesley Somerville died in the incident when a bomb they were placing in the Showband's minibus exploded prematurely.
Band member Stephen Travers was shot and seriously injured, Des Lee was blown into a ditch by the blast and hid and survived. A sixth member of the band Ray Miller had travelled home in another vehicle. Travers has dedicated his life to seeking the truth and making sure his bandmates were not forgotten. A Netflix film 'The Miami Showband Massacre' tells the story of the band and the tragedy that visited their doors.
A series of events will be held this Thursday 31 July on the site of the massacre, at Newry Town Hall, Daisy Hill Hospital, Dundalk and Dublin. Showband members, Des Lee, Stephen Travers, Ray Miller and their road manager Brian Maguire will be present and are inviting the public to join them to remember and celebrate the lives of their band mates Tony Geraghty, Brian McCoy and Fran O'Toole.
The Miami Showband 50th Anniversary Commemorations Thursday 31 July
Buskhill Road: 12pm (The site of The massacre)
Newry Town Hall: 1.30pm
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry: 2.30pm
Dundalk: 4pm (At the site of the former Adelphi Ballroom)
Parnell Square, Dublin: 7pm (The Miami Showband monument)
