Athy Library to host book launch for survivor of Miami Showband Massacre
Bass player and writer, Stephen Travers
ATHY Library is excited to welcome renowned musician and author Stephen Travers for the launch of his powerful new book, ‘The Bass Player’, on Tuesday, December 2 at 6.30pm.
Travers, whose family hails locally from Moone, Co Kildare, returns to the region with one of the most important and unforgettable stories in modern Irish cultural history.
The Bass Player charts Stephen’s life and the events surrounding the Miami Showband Massacre, one of the darkest moments of the Troubles.
On the night of July 31, 1975, members of the Miami Showband were ambushed by a fake military checkpoint in County Down. Three band members were murdered, and Stephen himself was critically injured.
The attack sent shockwaves across the island: a moment when the world of Irish popular music collided brutally with the political conflict, forever altering the landscape of Irish culture, live performance, and public life.
Next Tuesday’s event will offer attendees the opportunity to hear Stephen speak about the book, his journey, and the ongoing quest for truth and reconciliation. Copies of The Bass Player will be available to purchase and personally signed on the night.
Also during the evening, there will be live music from Mikayla Farrell of MOA (Made of Athy), one of the area’s most talented emerging artists.
