Lesser Known Roadshow Families

"I think that if travelling variety shows came back they could make a go of it," says Marie Martin, daughter of Joe Martin, Ballsgrove, Drogheda. Joe and Marie were part of the Martin family's travelling roadshow, which at one time had Drogheda people almost kicking down the door of the old Savoy Cinema, Fair Street, to catch their performance. Many from north county Dublin to Trim and Ardee will remember the Martin family, and indeed half a dozen other family variety shows which survived in this country for decades.