Former Bagatelle musician Walter McConville launching first album with new band

Drummer Walter McConville (centre) with his bandmates from his new band 21 Bridges

Margaret Roddy

Thu 2 May 2024 at 18:00

The legendary Dundalk musician Walter McConville, who was a long time member of Bagatelle, has formed a new band who are marking the launch of their first album with a gig in aid of SOSAD.

The drummer had been a key member of Bagatelle along with fellow Dundalk musician Liam Reilly, touring throughout Ireland and the United States, before leaving in 1993.

He had recorded a couple of albums after leaving Bagatelle but hadn’t gigged for four years due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was writing songs all the time – I write nearly every night,” he says, and had built up a collection of new material.

Now living in Inniskeen, Walter heard good reports about a couple of musicians Brendan Leavy and Noel O’Neill who were playing a lot of Bagatelle stuff.

He decided to check them out and got in touch with Brendan’s cousin, country singer Mattt Leavy,

"I went to see them and we had a chat about forming a new band.”

The result is 21 Bridges, named after the film, with Joey Kay and Pearse Clark completing the line-up.

Next stop was the recording studios in Clonmellon and they are now launching their debut album The Flame of Love on Saturday May 4 in the Headford Arms, Kells in aid of SOSA Ireland.

"We have ten tracks of original songs and people keep telling me that it’s got a Bagatelle vibe,” says Walter.

"It’s all easy listening stuff with a country pop vibe.”

The Flame of Love is available on all major streaming platforms and on Spotify.