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1981 Concert Tour of England, Scotland and Ireland

Organising the first tour was a great challenge and venture. At that time there was no other group doing anything like what was proposed. Three major conditions for a successful tour were identified. Namely, consent and co-operation of parents, the building up of the group with special artists and the co-operation of a dynamic promotion group in England, Scotland and Ireland.

Parents were very happy with the idea and agreed to co-operate in every way. Six key artists were easily persuaded to join, namely, Miss Lauren Ramdhanny (musical director), Kenneth St. John (soloist), Kenrick Bernard (choreographer), Ian Marryshow, Pax and Rex Harley.

The U.K was organised by Lloyd Noel who went to England and established the St. John’s Development Association. This Association organised the four London concerts.

In order to muster support in Ireland, some key persons had to be converted to the idea. Bernard and Marie Mac Carthy, Dublin, visited Gouyave on January 1, 1981 and were sufficiently impressed to give the venture their backing. They undertook to organise a week in Dublin.

Fr.Oliver Leavy, the Irish parish priest and manager of the group, went to Ireland in february 1981 to promote the tour. He persuaded some of his priest friends in Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow, to help.

With that support, a tour was finalised and committees were organised in 20 different centres in Ireland. In Scotland, four concerts were organised from the Kiltegan House in Buchlyvie, Storlingshire.

A series of local shows were organised in Gouyave, Victoria, Sauteurs, Grenville, St. David and St. George’s. The farewell show in St. George’s at the Grenada Boys Secondary School Auditorium will always be remembered as the first full real Youthquake show.

The openiong night in London at the Acton Town Hall was a sell out. The reception was more than could have been expected. People were thrilled and not a little nostalgic.

The long train journey from Euston, London to Glasgow Central was a great experience. However, stepping out into the cool air of Glasgow was a shock for many who think it is cold at 70 degrees F.

The week at Buchlyvie was memorable for the cold which after two days brought down seven with larengytis. But Scotland has its charms. A tour by the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond and into Glasgow was enjoyable.

No concert had to be cancelled in Scotland and the concerts in Dumbarton and Flakirk were very successful.

Ireland made Youthquake. From the touch down at Dublin airport to the departure on the B & I ferry a month later, it was a dream.

The Mac Carthy’s had everything well organised for the week in South Dublin which included four show, a live television broadcast mass and a day and half recording at RTE.

From South Dublin the group went to the Midlands. The shows in Mullingar and Kinnegad were the best attended. more than 1500 person attend the show at St. Mary’s Gym in Mullingar.

The group also visted Athlone, Longford, Sligo, Foynes,, Drishane, Cork, Thurles, Kilkenny & Carlow.

Back in England, the group performed in Liverpool, Birmingham, Slough and the final concert at Acton Town Hall.