Ben still on stage at 90, in memory of Joe

Christmas 2024 marked 17 years since legendary Mullingar entertainer Joe Dolan passed away, at the age of 68. But his legacy is still very much alive in his family, including his 90-year-old brother, Ben Dolan, who is still performing.

As was often said, there’s “no show like a Joe show”, and Ben should know, having shared the stage with his younger brother for 47 years.

The family are preparing for a tour of their show, Remembering Joe, in 2025, and the dates lined up include one in Mullingar Arts Centre on April 12.

The show features Ben’s daughter Sandra, sons Ray and Adrian, and members of the original Joe Dolan backing band.

“We have four Dolans on the front line, myself and my two sons and my daughter, and it’s a real pleasure to do the shows,” said Ben, not one bit put off by his age.

“If Joe were here, he’d be saying ‘what are you doing, are you mad at your age’, and maybe I am, but sure, what else would I be doing? I can’t get a job, I’m too old, so I might as well keep going.”

Showbiz is “a pretty big job” at the age of 90 and, while Ben says his back gives him trouble at times, he’s delighted he is still able to perform.

“It’s all my family and it’s a pretty big job. I mean it’s been very successful. It’s blossomed into something really good,” he said.

“He had the best of friends all over the country, Joe had. Even apart from his singing, as an individual, he was well liked everywhere.

“And of course, he was a great singer, really. He has left a good legacy behind him in all the songs he recorded and that’s really what keeps it alive, you know. I mean all the original songs, and covers as well. He had songs that were hits for him in different places all over the world.”

One of Joe’s best known songs, Good Looking Woman, was featured in the Disney hit film, Cruella, and performers such as Robbie Williams, Damon Albarn of Blur, the late Shane McGowan and Morrissey of the Smiths have covered Joe’s music in their live shows. Robbie Williams is playing Croke Park next year (2025)… possibly with a Dolan cover.

“We knew him,” said Ben, at the mention of Robbie Williams, “well, I mean we didn’t really know him, but we knew his father. Joe was friendly with his father.

“But, in fact, there’s a few musicians at the moment covering his songs. Nearly everyone from the top bands in the country at the moment – they still do a few of his songs. The whole thing has been kept alive.

“You know, it’s 17 years this year since he died, so it’s great to see the music being kept alive like that.

“Everybody I meet, the first thing they say to me is ‘ah, poor Joe’, you know. So we all remember him. It’s amazing the amount of people that remember the day he died and that type of thing.”

That’s what makes touring with the annual Joe Dolan Tour so special, Ben says – remembering his brother, while people enjoy the music.

“It’s a real pleasure to meet all the people. I mean, we were at it for whatever, 40, 45 years, you know. So a lot of our customers are probably 50 or 60 years younger than me,” said Ben.

“But it’s still a real pleasure to be performing the songs up and down the country.”

The tour kicks off on January 22 in the Grand Opera House, Belfast, and there are 15 dates across the country.