Very Sad News/ Val Doonigan has died

I loved Val Doonican. He had a beautifully mellow and expressive voice. The simplicity and purity of it brought even more poignancy to some of the old classics. I liked his interpretation of The Folks who Lived on the Hill. And, of course, Paddy McGinty's Goat was always good for a chuckle.

When I was on maternity leave in 1963, I got to listen to daytime radio for a nice change. There was a programme on Radio 2 each weekday morning, of people singing, regulars amongst them were Val Doonican and Roger Whittaker, both of whom I really liked, but had no idea what they looked like, so I was really chuffed to see Val Doonican on Sunday Night at the London Palladium, singing "Walk Tall". After that, his career really took off. R.I.P. Mr. Doonican, a lovely man.

I remember him telling a very funny family anecdote on an 80s/90s chat show . He was having a bit of a go about the suggestive nature of pop music aimed at the teen and pre-teen market.
He heard one of his young daughters singing the words to a particular pop song which went : Ooh-ee, -ooh-ar-ar, left my knickers in my boyfriend's car.'
Deciding to persue this a bit further to see if she actually understood what she was singing he said 'Why do you think her knickers got left in her boyfriend's car?' She replied 'I expect she left them there after she got changed for her ballet lesson.'

I wonder what his thoughts were recently on Mylie Cyrus et al ??

I loved Val when I was younger. Someone has started a campaign to get Paddy McGinty's goat to number one

Along with O`Rafferty`s Pig, I hope!

And Delaney's donkey perhaps

Yes the fag, glass of whiskey and missing finger were the late lamented Dave Allen. My most favourite comedian ever. Val's trademark were a rocking chair and an Aran sweater. I wonder how he stood the heat under the old TV lighting! I wasn't a fan of his music but he represented that old fashioned value of genuine niceness that appealed to the Irish mammies of the time.

A wonderful voice. Loved listening to him years ago-the rocking chair and the easy manner. My Mum was a great fan too.