It’s back to the future for duo Fran and Muriel!

YEARS ago, when a young fresh faced keyboard player and vocalist named Fran Curry joined the hitherto trio of Folk musicians in The Bards, he gave the group a new impetus and a new hit back then with The Old Dungarvan Oak.

Fran’s former band The Bards, have long since retired but he is busier than ever with his singing partner Muriel O’Connor, and they have given this much-loved classic a fresh Country makeover.

The song, written by Welsh songwriter Frank Hennessy, was originally known as The Old Carmarthen Oak. It was first a Top 5 hit in Ireland with the word Dungarvan replacing the Welsh place name in the title for showband singer Dermot Henry back in 1972. The title change being suggested by his late manager Des Kelly from Turloughmore.

This new version is the first time it’s been recorded as a duet and Muriel and Fran teamed up with acclaimed producer Johnathan Owens to do so. It has just been released to radio and on all streaming platforms.

Away from the stage, Fran is one of Ireland’s best-known broadcasters, hosting the hugely popular daily talk show Tipp Today on Tipp FM, while Muriel is a familiar voice to listeners of Tipperary Mid-West Radio. Together, they also spent many successful years co-presenting their own TV show on Sky TV.

As a duo on the social dancing scene, they have been packing out dance floors as well as at concerts at many venues here plus overseas performances at festivals in the UK as well.

They’ve headlined the Nottingham St Patrick’s Day Festival on two occasions and continue to entertain fans at their own October music weekend in Ennis, which has become a highlight on the social calendar every year.