The Beatles And Ireland

The Beatles And Ireland



The Beatles And Ireland is a new book exploring The Beatles' Irish connections, including eyewitness accounts of the two gigs they played here.

The Fab Four’s connections with the auld sod are thoroughly explored in The Beatles And Ireland (pictured), a new book co-authored by Laois laser technician-cum-journalist Michael Lynch and Damian Smyth, a Yorkshire-born, Dublin-domiciled photographer and events promoter.

Over 218 fascinating pages, they present eyewitness accounts of the two gigs The Beatles played here in 1963 and 1964; delve into George’s Wexford roots and John’s buying of an island off the Mayo coast; and recount the furor which greeted a solo of Paul’s ‘Give Ireland Back To The Irish’. Ringo takes a bit of a back-seat throughout but, well, wasn’t that always the way?

I had no idea there was that much connection between the Beatles and Ireland. I mean, I know there was sone, but not enough for a 200 page book.

75% of the Beatles were of Irish extraction. John, Paul and George were Anglo-Irish.

Well yeah, I was aware of that.

The Lennons came to Liverpool from Co. Down in the late 1840s.

James Lennon, John's great grandfather married Jane McConville (b.1831 Co Down Ireland) in St. Anthony's Chapel, Scotland Road, Liverpool in 1849.

On John's mother's side, The Stanleys, his great grandmother Eliza Gidea came from Omagh, Co Tyrone and married William Stanley in 1868.

The Beatles are quite Irish in their lineage. But maybe only Lennon paid some more heed for it. Paul considers himself more Celtic, as he said when he was creating the Standing Stone.

Originally Posted by brakn

The Lennons came to Liverpool from Co. Down in the late 1840s.

James Lennon, John's great grandfather married Jane McConville (b.1831 Co Down Ireland) in St. Anthony's Chapel, Scotland Road, Liverpool in 1849.

On John's mother's side, The Stanleys, his great grandmother Eliza Gidea came from Omagh, Co Tyrone and married William Stanley in 1868.

I am from Omagh. From which source did you establish that John had roots in the town.

I have been a Beatles fan since my early teens. In fcat I have written many articles for various magazines on The Beatles visits visit to Ireland. Many were published in the early 1980s. I have photographs, tickets stubs, handbills and video footage of their concerts in Belfast and Dublin 63-64. I am curious if the book features many interesting shots. I have both onstage and backstage shots.

Rag, I think you should write a book.

LL9, I know you're a Beatle expert :thumbu: I just like the way that sounded, that 75% of the boys were Anglo-Irish (save for Ringo).

I like the story of the Frenches, who came from Ireland.

Originally Posted by Ragtime Clown

I am from Omagh. From which source did you establish that John had roots in the town.

Sorry for the slow reply.

The 1881 census shows that Eliza Jane Stanley nee Gildea was born in Omagh, Co. Tyrone in 1849. She married William Henry Stanley in 1868 in Liverpool.

Also, the Stanleys were originally from London.