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Noel McMaster and Drew Rowan of Bakerloo
Junction and band secretary Catherine O�Reilly included
are Mervyn and Sadie Graham. |
Noel McMaster and Drew Rowan pictured
with Bakerloo fans Shirley Jones, Therese Brannigan and
Angela Whiteside.
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Noel McMaster is pictured saying farewell
to Moya Devlin and Artie O�Neill. (Moya is the daughter
of the late Paddy Devlin MP, who died in August 1999). |
After playing every Friday evening at the Ivanhoe Hotel,
Carryduff for the past 8 years, Noel McMaster and Drew Rowan of
Bakerloo Junction, performed their final show on Friday 27th
June. Former Lisburn man Noel McMaster, who now lives near
Ballinderry, recalled many happy years performing at the local
venue and spoke of the great friendships developed and the
marriages, birthdays and many other special events that were
celebrated over the years since the band was formed in the late
1960s and shot to fame with a song written by Noel entitled �My
Lagan softly flowing� which topped the local charts in 1978.
Noel looked forward with anticipation to the release of his new
CD featuring new songs about Hilden Mill and Bushmills
Distillery. In an emotional farewell to Noel and Drew, band
secretary Catherine O�Reilly presented them with a cake and read
a poem, which she had written for the occasion.
The evening of celebration concluded when the talented local
musicians sang, �So long, it�s been good to know you�, which was
greeted with a rapturous applause and standing ovation to which
they sang their final song �The Galway Shawl� which they played
on many occasions at the Ivanhoe.
One of the many fans that have enjoyed listening to Bakerloo
Junction every Friday evening is Moya Devlin, daughter of the
late Paddy Devlin MP, who died in August 1999. Moya, who will
greatly miss her Friday night entertainment said, �I have made
good friends at the Bakerloo Fan Club; I love to hear Noel sing
and it makes me think about my Dad when he sang to us when we
were children - this is a happy memory for me�.
Making the evening a triple celebration was Sadie Graham who in
addition to celebrating her retirement after 30 years as Carr
Primary School secretary, was also looking forward to Friday 4th
July, when she and her husband Mervyn will celebrate 40 years of
marriage.
Ulster Star
28/06/2008
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