The Irish Echo Band
Sharing the Love
By Daniel J. Curran
The Irish Echo band’s sharing of love and assistance to those families in need continues strongly, which has enriched the band’s musical joie de vivre with patrons annually. The Irish Echo Band is a multigenerational community event serving the Eugene/Springfield area. We’re talking long-term love here. Serving the community is a prevailing theme that continues to be the driving force behind this band, attendees, and some businesses in the Eugene/Springfield area.
The Irish Echo’s founding members include Mike Donnelly from Long Island, Bob Bury from Redwood City, Jerry Ragan of Brooklyn, George Wilhelmi of Philadelphia, Dan Grogan of Woodside, Queens (like myself), and Jim Keegan of the Lower East Side as founding members. Irish Echo has grown significantly, numbering 17 members, maybe more.
The Irish Echo Band began earnestly in 1981 at the Café Central in Eugene. When Irish Echo began playing together, they were a group of local professionals who formed the band to have some fun and not necessarily make money for themselves. They played dates at the Tree House Restaurant and then with the Knights of Columbus for the Widow’s Fund, St. Paul’s Catholic School before aligning themselves with the Catholic Community Services of Lane County (https://www.ccslc.org) and settling in at Marist Catholic High School gymnasium for annual sellout shows. The Irish Echo Band knows the benefit of giving back keeps it strong. They are aware of how the work of CCSLC is so critical for families in need in the community, so they decided to make CCSLC the beneficiary of their annual St. Patrick’s Day event and more in the mid-2000s, and it has continued to grow annually.
The band’s fundraising events continue to distinguish it as a cherished neighborhood CCSLC partner, raising as much as $21,000+ in past years for a main event evening. Irish Echo’s charitable past includes raising funds for St. Paul Catholic School and a stage on their premises, O’Hara Catholic School, and Marist High School.
The St. Patrick’s Day event exemplifies the good when the community effort becomes purposeful. Involvement reigns throughout. Everyone is chipping in somehow. The love envelopes all. A “halfway to St. Patrick’s Day.” summer gig continues with noteworthy donations—the community effort doesn’t end. The band had smaller musical endeavors in the Eugene area this year, namely the Brewstation in Cottage Grove on Saturday, March 9,
which played to a packed house. On March 17, The Irish Echo played a late afternoon session at the Pint Pot in Eugene on St. Patrick’s Day. In the smaller events, a cup is out for donations, and the bar/club owners have donated to the band’s charitable endeavors, all of which continue to CCSLC.
The 400-ticket limit for the principal event sold out, filling the Marist High School gymnasium. The Saturday, March 16 event raised more than $16,000 for CCSLC. All the tickets were purchased through CCSLC, meaning the money generated went right to work for those in need in the Eugene/Springfield area.
“We are so grateful to the Irish Echo for their commitment to this event and to CCSLC,” said Lorri Perreault, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Lane County.
The present iteration of The Irish Echo is Dan Bedbury on Guitar; Steve Killgore on Guitar; George Helbling on Guitar and Bodhran; Tom Boyd, whistle, accordion, and keyboard; Mark Herring, Pennywhistle; Deb Ettel accordion and keyboard; Bob Hacker, Keyboards; Neil Isaacson on Bass guitar and Luke Leitter on the mandolin, Bob Bury is on the mouth harp, and Linda Kasun is on the fiddle, and Tom Ellis is on drums. On vocals, John Stacy, Bob Bury, Rene Ragan, Brenna Stacy, Mike Donnelly, Jim Keegan and Jerry Ragan. Quinn Reilly also performs on several traditional songs previously performed by his father in the band’s early days.
“The Irish Echo allows those with Irish heritage or the imaginary concept of Ireland to “Feel” Irish for an evening. Or, as Tom Ellis (T.C. the Great/drummer) said, “In most cases, folks come out and hear music, applaud, have a pint, and head home; with The Echo, they get to travel to Ireland for the evening,” said Mike Donnelly, a founding member and key vocalist.
The setlist was excellent, with traditional Irish tunes for the first two sets; the third set leaned into rock n’ roll, fun. It was a sing-along throughout the evening. Everybody was moving in some fashion regardless of where they were in the gymnasium. Jerry Ragan’s superb lead vocals on Danny Boy brought tears to some eyes, mine included. Killer (Steve Killgore), with his impressive Johnny Cash guitar and vocals, brought Ring of Fire and Folsom Prison Blues to a spellbound audience. Neil Isaacson on Bass guitar and Tom Ellis on drums delivered an impressive rhythm section song after song throughout the evening. John Stacy, Bob Bury, Jerry Ragan, Mike Donnelly, and Jim Keegan were exceptional as backup vocalists, singing with unbridled enthusiasm. Rene Ragan, Brenna Stacy, and Deb Ettel were exemplary as the female lead vocalists throughout the evening. The list goes on for the exceptional musicianship throughout the evening for all members of the Irish Echo.
“What I enjoy about the Echo is the relationships with the other members. I have to admit, it’s a kick to see people enjoy our music. We’ve grown old together; there’s some youth in the group, but it will be interesting to see if there’s truly a next generation,” said Killer.
The sound provided for this event was a world-class, top-of-the-line P.A. System by Relles Sound of Eugene. It was an absolute difference-maker for the band and audience alike. Quinn Reilly, the son of George Wilhelmi, one of the band’s founding members, financed the system for the evening. He worked closely with sound company owner George Relles, who volunteered much of his time throughout the day, from loading in at 10 am to loading out at 10 pm. He also mentored two employees to help orchestrate the sound.
“Music is what drives The Irish Echo. Playing music, the practices, the magic that lies within ‘four freakin’ chords,” as the musicians sometimes joke about, is just life-giving. The charity part is a bonus, as nobody complains about their split,” said Donnelly.
Professional caterer Billy McCallum prepared the food and arranged to feed 400-plus attendees in under an hour. Impressive. With the ticket purchase for this event, patrons were treated to a dinner buffet of exceptional classic Irish foods and Greek desserts made by the Drakatos family. A cash bar aided those wishing to imbibe.
CCSLC doors are open to serve all in need regardless of race, color, religious preference, age, orientation, or other protected classification. CCSLC offers immediate help by providing food and additional assistance to anyone in need and instills hope by helping Lane County families take positive steps toward moving out of poverty. CCSLC collaborates with a wide range of local community organizations, donors, foundations, churches, and government agencies. CCSLC is a member agency of the Catholic Charities of Oregon network.
“Catholic Community Services cherishes the relationship with the Irish Echo band members and their generous hearts to fundraise for our Agency every year. The St. Patrick’s Day dinner/dance featuring the Irish Echo is such a fun night and has become a bit of a legacy for CCSLC and the community over the years. We look forward to it and hope it continues for years,” said Lorrie Perreault.
The Irish Echo Band community events are savored times for all involved. It’s a love affair happening in real-time.
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