The Archives of Let's Talk Dusty! Home Profile Active Topics Active Polls Members Search FAQ Username: Password: Login Save Password Forgot your Password? All Forums Let's Talk Dusty! The Forum Don't Forget About Me Documentary Film about Dusty Forum Locked Topic Locked Printer Friendly Author Topic Posted - 16/12/2008 : 00:50:07 I hope someone can help me out here. And I guess if you guys can't advise me no-one can! I am researching a television series on Great World Music Artists with Irish connections and am delighted to find Mary O'Brien was just about the best female singer ever, Dusty Springfield. And so touching what her brother did at the Cliffs of Moher. I found that very moving. If anyone can contact me with any information of any kind and / or put people who would know in touch with me I would be so grateful. I am really looking for information on her parents origins, how did she feel about, did have any influence on her, how did she enjoy her time here, for example at Cregg Castle (near where I live actually). I would love to hear some real gems of stories that show her enjoying. If any of you could also pass on this message on any other relevant forums I would be so grateful. I look forward to hearing from you all. Kind Regards, Pierce Boyce allherfaces Administrator Posted - 16/12/2008 : 00:54:02 Hi, and welcome, Pierce. Here's a place you can start: http://www.dustyspringfield.info/newdustysite/dusty/rep_.html USA 14235 Posts memphisinlondon Where am I going? Posted - 16/12/2008 : 01:23:44 Just to say, Nancy, I like your sign off. I've used that elsewhere. There's something in my soul too. Memphis Ever since we met... United Kingdom 3565 Posts Posted - 16/12/2008 : 12:55:47 dustyspringfield.info/ /topic.asp?ar 1/5
hello Pierce, you may have some of this information already. despite the name O'Brien Dusty's immediate Irish background was from her mother's side of the family. Dusty's mother Catherine Ryle (born c.1900-died 1976) grew up in Tralee, County Kerry. She was the daughter of Maurice Ryle who was editor of the Kerry Sentinal newspaper and later a parliamentary correspondent for the Irish Independent I think. In a radio interview in 1985 Dusty mentioned that her mother was from a family of 13 and that she (Dusty) still had some uncles (she mentioned a Tom and Colm)living in. I doubt if they are alive now but I am sure Dusty must have many cousins still living in. Dusty's father was Gerard Anthony O'Brien (born c.1905 died 1979)and he was born in Scotland, I assume he had Irish ancestry but I don't know how far back. I think Dusty loved Irish music and she performed a beautiful version of My Lagan Love on her BBC TV show in the sixties. It is available in the DVD Dusty Live At The BBC released last year. Edited by - on 16/12/2008 12:58:04 Posted - 16/12/2008 : 13:10:59 Dusty was interviewed by Gay Byrne on Irish TV on The Late Late Show in 1979. RTE may still have this in their archives. Posted - 16/12/2008 : 22:00:29 Nancy, Thank you so much for this link. I will look into it now. i am very excited about embarking on this journey to rediscover Dusty Springfield. I will keep you up to date on my progress and might touch base to verify naything I come across. I also loved your sign off. Pierce. quote: Originally posted by allherfaces Hi, and welcome, Pierce. Here's a place you can start: http://www.dustyspringfield.info/newdustysite/dusty/rep_.html Posted - 16/12/2008 : 22:03:38, Great stuff. Thank you so much. I must chase up the Ryle family to see dustyspringfield.info/ /topic.asp?ar 2/5
if I can track down some cousins in. Any more info is greatly appreciated. If I get the RTE Late Late Show interview I will let you guys all know and can maybe copy them in Abu for your libraries! But you mustn't tell the broadcaster. Pierce. quote: Originally posted by hello Pierce, you may have some of this information already. despite the name O'Brien Dusty's immediate Irish background was from her mother's side of the family. Dusty's mother Catherine Ryle (born c.1900-died 1976) grew up in Tralee, County Kerry. She was the daughter of Maurice Ryle wh o wa s editor of the Ke rry Sentinal newspaper and later a parliamentary correspondent for the Irish Independent I think. In a radio interview in 1985 Dusty mentioned that her mother was from a family of 13 and that she (Dusty) still had some uncles (she m entioned a Tom and Colm)living in. I doubt if they are alive now but I am sure Dusty must have many cousins still living in. Dusty's father was Gerard Anthony O'Brien (born c.1905 died 1979)and he was born in Scotland, I assume he had Irish ancestry but I don't know how far back. I think Dusty loved Irish music and she performed a beautiful version of My Lagan Love on her BBC TV show in the sixties. It is available in the DVD Dusty Live At The BBC released last year. allherfaces Administrator Posted - 16/12/2008 : 22:12:01 You are more than welcome, Pierce. Carole G who wrote the article is also a moderator on this site and one of our Dusty experts, so I'm sure she can fill in some blanks, as needed. There's also a bit about her parents in Sharon Davis' book A Girl Called Dusty which just came out this fall. USA 14235 Posts Dusty was forever quoting her full name, sometimes jokingly calling it a "good polish name." When Ed Sullivan asked her name, she preceded the recitation with "my sins." So, along with Irish came Catholic. She attended a convent school in Ealing, and there's a wonderful photo of her returning back to visit the nuns. Good luc k, keep us posted, and grab yourself an avatar! Posted - 17/12/2008 : 08:36:53 good luck with the documentary Pierce. One other thing that might help, in Paul Howes book The Complete Dusty Springfield he lists the following dates that Dusty performed in Dec 7 1963 Palm Beach Ballroom, Dublin Dec 8 1963 Plaza Ballroom, Belfast also Irish tours Feb 14-21 1965 and Feb 1-6 1966 Perhaps Irish newspaper archives would have reviews or interviews that Dusty did at the time in. Dusty also toured as part of the Springfields before going solo, I guess in 1961-63. dustyspringfield.info/ /topic.asp?ar 3/5
daydreamer Moderator Posted - 17/12/2008 : 22:19:11 I can't add much info to what has already supplied I'm afraid. You may already have seen this little piece Piers, it was in The Sunday Tribune in June 2000. Dusty's Ashes Scattered in Sea at the Cliffs of Moher United Kingdom 5404 Posts Tour guide Noel Curtin was handed an unusual request last year when he got a call on behalf of a customer from England. Would he be interested in a job that required a high degree of discretion? Curtin only discovered the job when he met the customer. The gentleman in question was named Tom Springfield and he wanted a lift out to the cliffs of Moher to scatter the ashes of his sister, Dusty. It was revealed last week that the legendary singer had requested that her ashes be scattered at the famed Irish landmark and weeks after her death on 2 March last year, her brother travelled to to fulfil her last wish. Curtin, who runs Shannon Heritage Tours, was asked to accompany him on Dusty's last journey. Dusty Springfield, who was born Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien, was known to be proud of her Irish heritage and travelled to this country frequently. It has emerged that she chose her final resting place having visited the area a number of times and been taken by its natural beauty. According to Curtin, Tom Springfield, who like his sister changed his name, was silent on the trip from his city hotel out to the Cliffs. "He was quite upset which was very understandable and he said nothing at all on the journey out there," Curtin remembers. Once there, Curtin left Tom to do what he had come to do and joined him after in the nearby visitor centre. "He was a friendly man. He had a cup of coffee and I told him about the history of the place, that it had been for many generations in the O'Brien family and so was a fitting resting place for his sister." Dusty Springfield, hailed by many as one of the greatest singers of her generation, died after a long battle with cancer at the age of 59. **** I would direct you to Michael Bayley's Woman of Repute site for a couple of articles that relate to Dusty in. One is the story of the video shoot she did there and the other is an article by Frank McGuinness for the Irish Times. http://www.cptelecom.net/mbayly/article24.htm http://www.cptelecom.net/mbayly/article20.htm Carole x "The days have come and gone since you were here..." Forum Locked Topic Locked Printer Friendly The Archives of Let's Talk Dusty! Topic Jump To: Select Forum 2006-2009 Nancy J. Young, Laura Howard, Rob Wilkins, Corinna Muller dustyspringfield.info/ /topic.asp?ar 4/5
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