The Champions

Gina, Dale Hayes & the Champions,

The original lineup of Gina on vocals , Jerdie Mackey known as Dale Haze on vocals, Mossy Walsh on keyboards, Pat Walsh on guitar, Eddie Fitzgerald on bass and Tony Hornibrook on drums, hit the road as the Herdsmen in early 1973. The band released their first single “Paper Mansions” and was playing the smaller circuit, when they signed with Tony Byrne. When Cork beat Galway in the 1973 All-Ireland Final in Croke Park, they had their new name, The Champions. Their first single recorded as the Champions, Dreams Are Good Friends, climbed to Number 12 in the Irish Charts. The Champions had their first hit and were off and running.

The early 70’s were an interesting time in the Irish showband world. The Champions music better represented the new generation of dancers & Jerdie changed his name. Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions finally had their name and image solidified. Their next single in 1975, Minnie, Minnie, climbed into the Irish Top Ten to Number 5 and the band were official hit makers.    With 12, chart hit singles and several best selling albums during a ten year period from 1974 to 1984, many music critics say that as a young band from those years, The Champions extended the showband era by at least ten years. A whole generation of dancers and concert goers will remember Gina, Dale Haze and The Champions for such hits as "Do Ya Wanna' Do It", "You're the Greatest Lover", "Minnie Minnie", "Drunken Sailor", "Give Me Back My Love" and of course their debut hit "Dreams are Good Friends".

 

After reaching the pinnacle of their profession the band broke up for a variety of reasons. "After I got married and had our second child I felt it was time to quit," says Gina who is married to band member Pat Walsh. Along with his brother and band leader Mossie Walsh, Pat continued to work on the local scene around Cork.  "I would join their group from time to time, mostly for some corporate gigs and a few shows abroad," says Gina. Guitarist Eddie Fitzgerald when back to working in the electrical trade as well as continuing with his love of boating while drummer, Tony Hornibrook, is now best known as radio presenter Tony Brook on Tipp FM Radio.

The catalyst for The Champions coming together again was when RTE's Ronan Collins contacted them regarding their appearance at the launch of a walkway dedicated to music stars from the showband era outside the former Arcadia Ballroom in Cork.” It was an emotional get-together and the chemistry was so right when we all met up again that it did not seem like 17 years since we had worked together," said Gina. "We had the best of fun and craic during that meeting and over some cups of tea afterwards we all said that it would be lovely to tour the country together again once again and entertain all the fans we played to and got to know so well in the past," she added. "The fans were fabulous and even though we all went our own ways in life, it is great that each member of the original band was excited about the comeback tour." So The Champions of the Irish music scene from two decades took to the road and seem set to become champions all over again, in 2012.