New Testament

New Testament From; Galway Active; 1981 – 1984
Style; Punk/New Wave
Vocals & Guitar; Eamonn Dowd
Bass; John Flatley
Drums; Finbar McDonagh

New Testament are a 3 piece New Wave band who write all their own material. They formed nearly a year, but have just recently started playing gigs. There first Galway city centre concerts were lunchtime at the RTC & Smokey joe’s. They played Claremorris Town Hall and attracted a large crowd. Their demo tape is getting airplay on the new Galway radio station W.C.C.R. Dave Fanning starts to play “Guilty” on his RTE2 rock show. One of their highlights was at a recent gig, when an enthusiastic audience demanded five encores.
Their first concert in Dublin was at the Ivy Rooms on 29th July as part of the “Inner City Looking On Festival”.
In July ’82 Steve Wall joins the band on guitar.
Claddagh Hall Rock n Roll party.
August on the bill at Castlebar with The Rats & Thin Lizzy. New Testament become the first “Rock” band to play the Western Hotel in Claremorris. In October they tour Ireland’s colleges. They also support The Fuze twice at the Baggot inn in Dublin.
Roscommon Coachman’s Inn only 29 people turn up
“Another Lost Soul” & “Bewitched” “Guilty”
Lunchtime gigs in the Cellar bar
Trying to find somewhere to play is near impossible. It’s the kids that want to see us, but they can’t get into any bars. We tried to do our own Dandelion market thing. We found an old abandon wharehouse, but the opposition we met was so great we had to give up on the idea. A promoter offered us a guaranteed £200 for a gig, but said we had to change the band name, as the priests don’t like it!
Eamonn and two other original members of the band were from Claremorris.
A five track demo tape was recorded at Galway’s R.C.F. Studio in Dec ’81