CAVAN | GALWAY | MAYO

1986 - 1990

OVERVIEW The Swinging Swine was formed in 1986 by Eamonn Dowd [ex-New Testament and later of The Racketeers] and guitarist Doug Steen who later played with The Revenants. The pair were studying arts in Galway at the time and were soon joined by Joe Wall [The Stunning] on Bass Guitar and Seamus Sullivan on drums. Over the following year or so, the band played extensively in venues across the West Of Ireland. They also found time to record a 3 track demo which featured the tracks, 'She Said', 'Bone Dry In Babylon' and 'Price You Pay'. Around this time, Joe Wall went off to concentrate full time on The Stunning and was replaced on Bass Guitar by Peter Murphy. Joanne Loughman also joined the lineup on vocals. By the end of 1987, the group had relocated to Dublin and added the services of Hugh O'Carroll [Fiddle] and John Lalor [Bass Guitar]. The band had found it difficult to hold on to their drummers. Billy Geraghty eventually took on the role and was to become the band's last drummer. The band was, by this time, building up a loyal following on the back of their live performances. They also made a number of TV appearances. In 1989, they were invited to contribute a track to a Nick Drake tribute album. They recorded 'Voice From The Mountain'. This was their first recorded output although the album wasn't released until 1992. By the time this compilation was released, The Swining Swine had released their one and only EP, 'Them Ghosts Do Come' in the Summer of 1990. Shortly after the release of the EP, the band split. Loughman and O'Carroll went on to form The Glee Club. Doug Steen joined The Revenants, Billy Geraghty drummed with both Interfertence and Hank Halfhead & The Rambling Turkeys, John Lalor played with The Judes and Eamonn Dowd formed The Racketeers. 1986 - Band formed 1990 - Release of 'Them Ghosts Do Come' EP - Band split 1992 - The bands interpretation of 'Voice From The Mountain' appears on the Nick Drake tribute album, 'Brittle Days'