Miami Showband massacre elicited the most harrowing scene imaginable, according to a survivor's account
Remembering the Miami Showband: A Symbol of Unity Amidst Division
Fifty years ago, on July 31, 1975, the Miami Showband, a popular Northern Irish band known for bringing two hours of peace and joy to their audiences, was the unfortunate victim of a horrendous attack. The ambush, carried out by a fake Army patrol involving the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), resulted in the deaths of three band members: Fran O'Toole, Tony Geraghty, and Brian McCoy.
The incident occurred near Newry, outside Dublin, after a gig in Banbridge. Despite the band’s cross-community appeal, the UVF had planned the bomb attack to kill band members and cause mass civilian casualties in Newry, exploiting the band's popularity to inflict shock and terror.
The attack was a tragic end to a band that never had any problems regarding religion or anything. The Miami Showband members—singer Fran O'Toole, guitarist Tony Geraghty, and trumpeter Brian McCoy—were unarmed, their only weapons being their musical instruments. Two attackers, Harris Boyle and Wesley Somerville, were also killed in the ambush due to a premature bomb explosion.
Survivors Stephen Travers and Des Lee provided harrowing eyewitness testimony. Travers was seriously wounded but survived, while Lee escaped uninjured. Lee has recalled the aftermath as the worst scene imaginable, describing the killing of his "brothers" and his frantic effort to find help after escaping the scene.
The impact on survivors has included enduring psychological trauma. Over 50 years later, they have sought to commemorate the victims and highlight the Miami Showband’s legacy beyond the massacre, emphasizing the band as a symbol of community cohesion in a divided society. Survivors stress the importance of remembering the tragedy to promote peace and reconciliation, as the band’s music transcended sectarian boundaries during the troubled period of Northern Ireland’s history.
Des Lee, the survivor of the attack, has a philosophy in life to forgive and forget and move on. However, he finds the day extremely difficult due to the memories associated with it. Despite this, he has stated that a loyalist band parade planned to take place in Portadown to remember one of the attackers is not a problem for him.
As we remember the Miami Showband and their tragic end, let us also remember their message of unity and peace. The band brought joy and unity to Northern Ireland during the 1970s, and their legacy continues to inspire hope for a peaceful and reconciled future.
References: 1. BBC News 2. The Guardian 3. RTE 4. The Irish Times
In light of the Miami Showband's tragic demise, the ongoing relevance of their message about unity and peace amidst war-and-conflicts and politics in Northern Ireland is significant. The band, known for their cross-community appeal, was targeted by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) despite having no connection to religion or politics, underscoring their general-news importance as a symbol of harmony amidst division. Crime-and-justice issues surrounding the attackers, such as the planned loyalist band parade to commemorate one of them, remain contentious even half a century later.
