Roy Carroll was one of the best known characters of Galway City. As a resident musician in many city hotels in Eyre Square, he was forever the epitome of decorum, bedecked in his bow tie. He was known to many as the man on the scooter which he rode through the city while often carrying an open umbrella, Roy sadly passed away in early winter, but it would be remiss of the city to not pay tribute to this remarkable character with an even more remarkable back story. Because Roy Carroll was his stage name, not many knew that he was born Peter Salvatore Armonde Louis Volpe.
Roy Carroll was born in Cheltenham, England on October 23 1927. His father, Antonio Salvatore Levio Volpe, was born in Fulham, London and originated from Castelforte in the south of Italy. He became the leader of a large dance orchestra using the stage name Peter Fielding and Roy’s mother, Kathleen Stevens, from Gloucester, had been a dancer in London.
Roy was one of five brothers and a sister. The family moved to Newcastle upon Tyne in 1932 where the band became established at The Oxford Galleries as the resident dance orchestra at the time. Roy began learning to play the piano and trombone at the age of twelve. He mainly taught himself to play these instruments with a little tutoring becoming a very accomplished musician by the time he was fifteen.
Roy began accompanying his father and brother, Michael, who was a drummer in the band, when he was eighteen, mostly playing the trombone, piano and occasionally the double bass. The band played predominantly at The Oxford Galleries in Newcastle and did tours during summer seasons in Eastbourne, Nottingham and elsewhere in the UK and on cruise ships abroad.
Roy was part of his father’s band for around seventeen years and his musical ability and repertoire increased during this time. Roy first visited Galway in the summer of 1953 for a holiday to meet his best friend, Tony Allan’s family friends, the Ryan’s, who ran a dance school there. Roy loved Galway, the kindly people and their Catholic way of life since that time. He continued his musical career in the UK with his father’s band and married Anne in 1959. They started a family and Roy remained playing mainly in the Oxford Galleries and various venues in Newcastle such as the Heaton Electric Ballroom and Tyne Tees television studios in the 1960s.
Move to Galway
Roy brought his family to live in Galway from 1969-1972. They were happy there and returned to Newcastle for family reasons, settling in Northumberland until the children grew up.
Roy has eight children, two boys and six girls named Louise, the twins Paula and Maria, Clare, Ruth, Peter, Frances and Richard. He has twenty-two grandchildren and was delighted to become a great grandfather in January 2021 on the happy occasion of the arrival of a great granddaughter.
Returning to Galway in 1985, Roy established himself as a pianist at the Salthill, Galway Bay and Eglinton Hotels and The Great Southern Hotel, later known as The Meyrick and more recently, Hardiman Hotel, until retiring in 2016 at 89 years of age.
Roy’s birth name was Peter Salvatore Armonde Louis Volpe and he adopted the name of Roy Carroll as common in the music business as entertainers seek to create their own unique brand and persona often in keeping with their community.
He loved playing piano and entertaining the many tourists visiting Salthill and Galway over afternoon tea, at weddings and countless other celebrations over the years. He varied his repertoire to suit differing groups of local or foreign guests and tourists in the hotels and later joined the jazz group at Busker Brownes on Sunday afternoons for a time.
Roy recorded two CDs for posterity in 2013 with a special launch event at the Meyrick Hotel to celebrate this wonderful achievement. One CD features traditional Irish music named “Heart of Galway” and the second, “Family Favourites”, a compilation of Irish songs loved and selected for individual relatives with “I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen” especially dedicated to his dear mother.
Thanks and appreciation are extended to Elizabeth Healy of Voicing Productions who directed in the creation of the CD’s and a short documentary on Roy called “Play It Again Roy”.
Scooter and umbrella
Roy was a distinguished character and was well known in Galway as a musician and local legend who rode on a scooter in a tuxedo and bowtie with umbrella aloft on occasion during inclement weather.
Roy was a law unto himself, in never wearing a crash helmet much to the initial vexation of the local Gardai and concern of his family and aquaintances. This was eventually reluctantly accepted by all with a benign tolerance and wry amusement for Roy alone who rode his scooter at a slow pace yet clearly not to be permitted or emulated by others in the interests of law abiding safety.
Roy’s musical excellence was widely recognised and appreciated by local musicians, residents and tourists alike. Roy’s daughters proudly overheard one admiring fellow-musician describe him as “The Maestro” and a local florist always told them their father had “one foot in Heaven” because of his faith and daily attendance at mass in the various churches of Galway.
After retiring, Roy continued to live independently in Droim Chaoin and would ride on his scooter into Galway city almost daily to attend mass. He frequently enjoyed a late breakfast in the homely and relaxed atmosphere of his favourite restaurant, the Galway Bakery Company locally known as the GBC. The staff knew Roy well and he took great pleasure in their hospitality and kindness over many years.
Roy attended St Francis’ Day Centre periodically and he greatly appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment and hospitality extended by the kind and friendly staff including Mary, Nora, Tommy the bus driver, catering and administration staff and several others who are highly deserving of heartfelt thanks and appreciation as they contributed to the enjoyment and care of Roy and other attendees.
At 90 years of age, Roy reluctantly accepted his family’s request to avail of the services of a home help. Special thanks and huge appreciation are extended to Philomena (Phil ) Lally who became his primary “Bluebird”; a very kind, friendly and thoughtful lady who took good care of Roy’s home.
Remarkably, Roy’s eldest daughter Louise, recognized Phil to have been a fellow schoolmate when she and her siblings attended the Mercy Convent School in 1969. This amazing coincidence further cemented Phil’s relationship with Roy and his daughters and she took special care of Roy until he was no longer able to live independently due to him unfortunately sustaining a hip fracture in July 2019.
Friends of Roy’s daughters who live locally kindly visited him over the years when he was still independent or later in care in the absence of his family living in the UK and Middle East. Roy’s family extend huge thanks and appreciation to these truly wonderful friends, Ann Burke, Patricia McWalter, Vivian Fahy and Margaret Killoran who selflessly gave of their time, kindness and affection to Roy in the latter years of his life. Each of these amazing ladies befriended and supported Roy bringing him happiness and pleasure in their company as they visited whenever possible.
Vivian deserves special recognition for her amazing kindness in doing Roy’s laundry during his post operative rehabilitation in Merlin Park and for visiting him regularly during this time and in Brampton Nursing Home when his family were unavailable or unable to travel to Galway due to the pandemic.
Appreciation
Roy’s family also wish to express their special thanks, appreciation and recognition to the following people who assisted and supported Roy in various ways over brief or extended periods of time:-
Managers Cian O’Broin and Adrian Qualter, formerly of the Meyrick Hotel and waiting on staff Margaret Glynn and Kevin Connolly, Roy’s colleagues in the tea lounge, who extended true friendship, kindness and support to him over the many years they worked together; Michael Whelan and family of Whelan’s Careplus Pharmacy in Williamsgate Street and GP’s Dr Eamonn Faller and Anthony Lundon of the Crescent Medical Centre who took excellent care of Roy’s healthcare needs; Handyman Jim O Connor and his workmates Martin and Peter who were absolute stars in truly going the extra mile with good humour, professionalism and great craic as they assisted in general repairs of Roy’s house in Droim Chaoin; Public Health Nurse, Samantha McKeon and Social Worker John McLoughlin for their fantastic care and support towards Roy as he approached retirement. All at Units 4 and 6 in Merlin Park who gave excellent care to Roy during periods of respite and rehabilitation.
Dave Browne and Tony Dolan of Chime Hearing Centre in St Francis Street, for their patience, kindness and invaluable assistance in meeting Roy’s hearing needs.
Ivor Robinson of Ivor’s Motorcycles for maintaining Roy’s scooters over the years and keeping him on the road.
Roy was a resident of Brampton Nursing Home in Oranmore for the last 2 years of his life where he was well cared for by a wonderful team including Head Nurse Eileen Greene, Serena, Kelly, Albert, Rachel, Anju, Dinto,Tess and Salvador, Physiotherapist Colin Thornton; the wonderful cooks who provided 5 star meals; Dolores who took care of the residents clothing and laundry and many others.
Each one excelled in their care and deserve the highest praise for their tremendous work given with great kindness, affection and humour as they daily brightened the lives of Roy and the other residents.
Roy passed away peacefully on 16th November 2021 aged 94 years surrounded by his loving family at University Hospital Galway. His family wish to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the staff of Brampton Nursing Home in Oranmore and Shannon Ward in UHG who gave exemplary care to their father.
Special thanks are extended to Cathriona and Willie O’Flaherty of O’Flaherty Funerals for their excellent, dignified and professional services with a personal touch. They were honoured to be entrusted with the funeral care of Roy as a well known local character and declared “we’ll be having a gentleman” which he certainly was.
Father Donal Sweeney conducted a beautiful and memorable funeral service for Roy at his favourite church, St Mary’s, the Claddagh on 27th November 2021. Roy’s family extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to Father Donal and to Noreena and Christine for their beautiful rendition of Ave Maria and Piu Jesu specially chosen to celebrate Roy’s life as a musician as they knew he loved these majestic pieces.
Roy’s family wish to further extend their heartfelt thanks to the friends, colleagues and many aquaintances of their dear Dad for the touching messages of condolence and memories on the RIP.ie site which brought them great comfort and joy knowing how much he and his music had meant to so many.
Roy loved entertaining and delighted in playing the piano at all occasions.Those times brought much happiness to others and his family are grateful for the friendship, appreciation, love and kindness shown to their Dad and themselves during many very memorable visits over the years.
Somewhere in Heaven, there’s the sound of a piano, followed by the purr of a scooter... and Roy.
