Present day
The O'Callaghan Band today has four members; Michael and Catherine Nash, who are children of Michael Senior,founder member of the band, and the two latest additions to the band are Anne O'Callaghan and Kieran Sheehy.
The eighties & ninties
In the 1980's Michael Senior retired from the entertaining side of the band, but continues to be active on the business side, even to the present day. When Michael Senior retired his sons and daughters; Michael, Ned, Gerard, Catherine, Colette and Pa continued the tradition of entertaining far and wide.
In 1985 The O'Callaghan Family Band won a major competition and a recording contract which was organised by the festival of Kerry.
In 1990 The O'Callaghan Family Band changed its name to the O'Callaghan Band. The band released a single called "Bonny Come Home". The song was written by Bernie O'Connor who was a well known poet and song writer, Michael arranged the music himself. They hoped the recording of the single would remind all their fans far and near that the O'Callaghan band are still giving of their best for Kerry dance fans.
The sixties & seventies
In 1960 The Desmond Ceili Band was formed. The members of this band were; Michael O'Callaghan (Senior), Nicholas McAuliffe on concert flute, Anne Sheehy playing the accordion, Nicholas and Anne are now husband and wife, Denis McMahon and Patrick O'Connor on fiddle and Tom Fleming playing the accordian. This band was very popular and played all over Ireland.
In the same era as the Desmond Ceili Band, Michael Senior started the O'Callaghan Family Band. This band included his sons and daughters, who all played at different stages. While the Ceili Band catered for the more traditional audience, the O'Callaghan Family Band entertained the younger audience, be it wedding, social, party, dance, etc. In the 70's the O'Callaghan Family Band were support artists for many greats that played in the Astor in Castleisland, bands such as Philomena Begley, Joe Dolan, Big Tom, Brendan Boyer, The Big 8, The Plattermen, The Freshmen and many more.
Band members from 1970 onwards were Pa Curtin, Nicholas Kerins, Nialas O'Connor, Ainey O'Connor, Dee Denision, Marie Lyons, and many more.
The early years
Michael O'Callaghan (Senior) of Castleisland was the founder member of the O'Callaghan Band. 1948-1949 he started out playing the accordion on his own in the library in Castleisland.
In 1953 Michael formed the Michael O'Callaghan Band. The members were Tom Fitzgerald playing accordian and John 'the tailor' Brosnan playing the drums. Tom Fitzgerald went to America so in 1955 there were new band members. The members were; Johnny Leary on accordion, Denis Murphy and Mikey Duggan on fiddle. This band played all over munster.
