Full Circle

Full Circle have been Rocking and Rolling for longer than just about anyone, possibly even including Chuck Berry. As schoolboys, John Keogh and Brian Lynch played together in the Greenbeats. I once read an article in which someone remembered a gig of theirs at my old school in the 50s. I also met Bob Wooler, the legendary DJ of The Cavern Club in Liverpool, who remembered the Greenbeats were the only Irish act ever to play there.

During the 60s the Greenbeats expanded to become part of the showband scene, with John and Brian still on board, and often played at the Stella House (later to be the Sportsmans) and dances in The Barn - the church hall opposite. As the ballrooms closed and the pubs turned again to smaller rock bands, John and Brian formed Full Circle, meeting up again with Mog Ahearne, drummer from the original Greenbeats.

One of their earliest engagements was a regular Friday night slot at the newly-opened McGonagles, reviewed by Dave Fanning in Issue 58 of In Dublin:

“Every Friday McGonagles is packed. It's simple, the crowd knows what it wants and Full Circle know exactly how to give it to them. It's hot rock and tasty roll all the way. Revolver play tighter and faster, but Full Circle play cleaner and better, and above all they offer more variety. They're one of the few bands in Dublin who realise that repetition without tedium is the backbone of rock 'n' roll. Last week they opened with 'Lucille' and offered a fiery 'Lay Lady Lay', a moody 'How Long', a funky 'Willie and the Hand Jive' and their own special shot of Friday night fever with a powerful 'Shakin All Over'.”

In 1979 they moved to The Sportsmans, switching eventually to Saturday nights. Over the next six years they built up a huge following, many of whom still turn up to see them today. Saturday night was party night at The Sportsmans, especially at Halloween, when the band members and punters all dressed up, and on the memorable charity night when they combined with the Coolgreaney Jazz Band to raise the roof with such classics as "The Midnight Hour" and "Pretty Woman". The night invariably ended with the crowd dancing on the tables and John standing on the piano for the band's signature tune, a raucous rendition of the Isley Brothers' "Shout".

The best party and rock n roll cover band of their era, Full Circle are one of the most sought after for corporate functions and weddings. After The Sportsmans they played for several years in The Baggot Inn until it too closed. They still perform regularly around town, almost 50 years on.