The best-selling biography on legendary Mullingar entertainer Joe Dolan is to be launched internationally with a special night in honour of Joe in the UK next week.
The book, which was a commercial and critical success upon its release here in Ireland last year, is to receive its international launch at the legendary London venue, The Boogaloo on Wednesday next, June 24.
Author Ronan Casey will be reading passages from the book and will also be presenting a short film on Joe, created especially for the event. Making it a real Mullingar night - and celebrating the town’s musical past, present, and future - will be the presence of top Mullingar rock group The Aftermath. The band, led by brothers Johnny and Michael Cronin, will be performing after the book launch.
A galaxy of stars and notable figures from the Irish community in England are expected to attend the launch, including Shane MacGowan. Notorious British music icon – and a big Joe Dolan fan – Pete Doherty is also expected to be there on the night. Founding Dire Straits member and regular visitor to Mullingar John Illsley will also be there.
The Boogaloo is a noted literary and musical watering hole run by Irishman Gerry O’Boyle. Situated on Archway Road in Highgate, North London it is one of the capital city’s most highly-rated venues.
Author and journalist Ronan Casey had started writing with Joe Dolan a year prior to his passing in December 2007, and the resulting book was a massive Irish best-seller for the world’s biggest publishing house Penguin last year. With the paperback version due on Irish shelves this week, a luxurious hardback will be launched in the UK at the Boogaloo on June 24.
After the launch, The Aftermath will rock the night away. The band have been putting the groundwork in across the UK over the past year in advance of the UK release of their best-selling album Friendlier Up Here. It will be released in the UK later this summer.
Meanwhile, its release in Scandinavia has found the Aftermath earning critical and commercial success in the region and the night after their Boogaloo gig, the men from Mullingar will be jetting it to Stockholm in Sweden where they are one of the big international acts at the Peace and Love Festival in Borlänge.
The Peace and Love festival is the biggest festival in Sweden, highly rated for its diverse program which mixes music with debates and workshops.
Mullingar’s musical links to London will not be ending with the Joe Dolan book launch.
