Search Results for 'Maxie Dooley'

The Order of Malta Ambulance Corps was established in Galway in October 1937 by Dr Conor O’Malley. The first meeting took place in the old Central Hospital when Dr O’Malley commenced a series of first aid lectures to a group who finally did exams and became members of the Order of Malta, generally known as the Knights of Malta.

After the war, there was a bit of a building boom of dance halls around the country. Radio had introduced popular music to the general public and more and more people wanted to move to the music, so dance bands began to form. Some of those in Galway were Des Fretwells’ Band, Maxie Dooley’s Musicmakers, The Bill Keaveney Orchestra, and Gerry Cahill’s Dance Band. They played the popular music of the day, were mostly seated on stage and reading the music from stands in front of them. Then along came Bill Haley and rock and roll and everything changed. The showbands had arrived. Music stands were forgotten, musicians played standing up and literally began to move with the times.