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A Half Century Of The Hennessys

Duration: 28 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC Radio Wales FMLatest broadcast: on BBC Radio Wales MW

Frank Hennessy first met Dave Burns and Paul Powell at the Central Boys Club in Bute Street, Cardiff 50 years ago. With their shared Irish roots and love of music, they formed a band, won a local competition, and went on to perform in English and Welsh on TV programmes like Disc a Dawn and The Singing Barn.
Since then they have entertained audiences throughout Wales and all over the world with songs like Cardiff Born Cardiff Bred, The Old Carmarthen Oak and Farewell to the Rhondda, all written by Frank Hennessy.
Frank and Dave, along with present day band member Iolo Jones, look back at some of the highlights of the last 50 years – representing Wales at the Smithsonian Festival in Washington, singing for the Pope and forming the Kairdiff Language Society– and they recall some of their stranger moments -living in a tent in their agent’s back garden, being kidnapped by students, and giving an impromptu concert for 40 Nuns.
A Half Century of Hennessys is a Remarkable Production for BBC Radio Wales Show less

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