EVENING TIME on Irish TV in the early 1980s. A psychedelic animation of red lips against a green background, all soundtracked by Horslips’ ‘Sword Of Light’. SBB Ina Shuí was starting.
Cut to the studio and there was Sean Bán Breathnach, looking like a skinny Mick Hucknall, with a shock of electrified sandy hair, sitting among the audience, ag caint Gaelige about what would be coming up on his show, and, if he could get away with it, throwing in the odd risqué - for the time - joke as well.
The good humour of SBB attracted non-Gaeilgoirs to the show, and was a major reason why from 1976 to 1983, SBB Ina Shuí was one of Ireland’s most popular shows - a great achievement for Irish language programming.
Sean Bán is reviving the show for a live version at the Town Hall Theatre on Thursday April 16 at 8pm. Joining SBB will be the Hernon Family, led by two time All-Ireland champion flute maestro and composer Marcus Hernon, accompanied by his sons Proinsias and Brendan, on accordion and fiddle, both of whom are also All-Ireland Fleadh na hEireann champions in sean-nós dancing.
The Voice Of Ireland’s Richie Hayes, who has gone on to enjoy success at home as well as on the European continent and North America, will perform, we wills howband veteran Shaun O’Dowd, best known for ‘You Are No Angel’ and ‘Dig A Little Deeper’; and singer Marian Kelly.
Since winning the Irish Worlds Best All-Round Entertainer Award and the success of her album Come On In, London based Heidi McCaffrey, has played across Britiain and is making her fouth appearance at the Town Hall for SBB Ina Shuí.
Tickets are available from the Town Hall on 091 - 569777 or www.tht.ie
