Louis Walsh - the Athlone connection

Louis Walsh may be a household name in the worldwide music and entertainment industry in recent years.

But the first step in his ascent to global stardom can be traced back to the Royal Blues, the showband featuring the late Athlone showband legend Doc Carroll, a native of Mayo.

The band's manager Vincent Gill gave him a summer job in 1969 – and soon after Walsh was appointed publicity officer for the band. The rest, as they say, is history.

This reference in a piece on Doc Carroll in the Westmeath Independent in October 1970 may well be one of the first mentions of the showbiz maestro outside his native county of Mayo.

“PRO for the Royal Blues is 17-years-old Louis Walsh, also a native of Co. Mayo, who stayed for a holiday in the Carroll home last week.

“Despite the fact that he has been helping the boys in this sphere for the past two years, Louis has just passed his Leaving Certificate with honours in art, geography and history. Louis also manages a group called 'The Time Machine' who are well known in the Midlands.

“Doc is delighted that this young lad has been given the opportunity to develop his talents as a public relations officer and he is confident that he can help to promote the band in many ways.”