"Ryan's
Fancy"
CBC (Series
summary from The Queens University Directory Of CBC Television Programs.)
Air Times:
1972: Jan 7 - Apr 1, Fridays, 7:30 - 8:00 pm
1978: June 13 - Sept. 5, Tuesdays, 7:30 - 8:00 pm
1981: June 20 - Sept. 5, Saturdays, 6:30 - 7:00 pm
Denis Ryan, Dermot O' Reilly, and Fergus
O'Byrne comprised the Irish string band, Ryan's Fancy. Their syndicated
series, which also starred Tommy Makem, had run for three years, and was
produced through the independent Hamilton station, CHCH-TV. Each show in
their CBC series, as might be expected, included a segment of performances
in front of an audience, taped in St. John's. What made the show
different, however, was that the band and the crew traveled to different
locations in the Atlantic provinces to set the themes of the individual
programs of songs of the sea, of Atlantic Canada, and from the Celtic
tradition. Producer Jack Kellum, for example, set shows on a Newfoundland
schooner, in the Dorchester penitentiary in New Brunswick, and on Prince
Edward Island--a place seen all too seldom on the CBC. The film segments
were shot by Douglas Pike, with sound by Bill Murphy and lighting by Les
Button, and they were edited by Joe Murphy. The production enlisted the
services of folklorist Wilf Wareham for research, and the shows were
written by Al Pittman.
Network programs from the Atlantic centres are all too rare, and Ryan's
Fancy was a creditable example of how productions might advance from the
tried and true models of Don Messer's Jubilee and Singalong Jubilee.
From July to September, 1974, Ryan's
Fancy also starred in "Tommy Makem and Ryan's Fancy" out
of Hamilton.
Episode
6;
Specials
All On A Summer's Day
CBC, July 5 1979
Ryan's Fancy at Kings Landing Pioneer Village
n New Brunswick. Guests are Jennifer Whalen, Mike MacDougall,
James Keane & Warwick Learning.
Christmas At King's Landing
CBC, Dec. 26 1979
Ryan's Fancy Return to King's Landing
for a Christmas Special.
Home Boys Home
CBC, June 1, 1980
Ryan's Fancy return home to Ireland
& perform for family & friends. Special guest is Mary O'Hara.
People Of The Islands
CBC,
June 5 1980
Part of the "Heritage" series,
Ryan's Fancy perform at the Anglican church hall in Arnolds Cove,
Placentia Bay. Interview with poet Al Pittman who wrote the words of The
Rocks of Merasheen & Pat Byrne who wrote the music. They also visit
various abandoned islands in Placentia Bay. Guests also include Clyde Rose.
Movies
Pirate's Gold
CBC, Feb. 2 1983
Two children, Sheelagh Chadwick and
Jamie Pinhorn go to Kidd Island, which is haunted, looking for pirates
gold. Show features Ryan's Fancy, Beth Harrington and Michael Cook as the
ghost of Captain Kidd.
Denis Ryan, Dermot O' Reilly, and Fergus
O'Byrne comprised the Irish string band, Ryan's Fancy. Their syndicated
series, which also starred Tommy Makem, had run for three years, and was
produced through the independent Hamilton station, CHCH-TV. Each show in
their CBC series, as might be expected, included a segment of performances
in front of an audience, taped in St. John's. What made the show
different, however, was that the band and the crew traveled to different
locations in the Atlantic provinces to set the themes of the individual
programs of songs of the sea, of Atlantic Canada, and from the Celtic
tradition. Producer Jack Kellum, for example, set shows on a Newfoundland
schooner, in the Dorchester penitentiary in New Brunswick, and on Prince
Edward Island--a place seen all too seldom on the CBC. The film segments
were shot by Douglas Pike, with sound by Bill Murphy and lighting by Les
Button, and they were edited by Joe Murphy. The production enlisted the
services of folklorist Wilf Wareham for research, and the shows were
written by Al Pittman.
Pirate's Gold