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Bio:
The Nun Attax were one of Cork's first punk bands formed by Finbarr Donnelly,
Ricky Dineen, the O'Connell brothers and guitarist Mick Finnegan.
They played their debut gig
on February 14 (Valentine's Night) 1978 in a community hall in Mayfield
playing punk covers (Sex Pistols, Damned, Undertones).
Mick Finnegan's last gig with the band was the Carnsore Point anti-nuclear rally
in 1979. He left for because he wanted to play ska. He joined
the Antibodies (who he played with onstage at Carnsore) and was later in
Max Von Rap and
Expresso Mambo.
He suggested his replacement Gerdy AKA Gerdi AKA Giordai O'Laoghaire.
LR: Ricky Dineen, Finbarr, Philip O'Connell, Giordai Ua Laoghaire, Keith 'Smelly' O'ConnellThe Nun Attax played the Dandelion Market in Dublin on Saturday 23 February 1980. Stalwarts of the Arcadia scene, where they supported U2 and where they were captured live on tape in August 1980, immortalised on the Kaught At The Kampus 12inch. Earlier the same year they performed at a concert at Cork City Hall which was also recorded -- on 16th March 1980 -- anyone have a tape? On the bill the same night were the Hot Guitars, The Kidz, Small Change, Orpheus, and the pre-Microdisney Constant Reminders. Why no-one has dug up these tapes for a CD is beyond me.
After 9 months with the band, Giordai O'Laoghaire left in July 1980 and joined the
Constant Reminders who quickly changed
their name to Micro-Disney.
Nun Attax made their Dublin with Micro-Disney
at The Magnet in September 1980. Giordai stayed with Micro-Disney
until January 1982. He was later in Soon and Nine Wassies From Bainne.
In 1981, Donnelly, Ricky Dineen and Smelly formed
Five Go Down To The Sea and moved to London.
Donnelly died tragically some years later. Ricky and Smelly were later
involved in Loco Parentis.
Philip O'Connell was later in Hidden Fears.
If anyone out there is record label land is listening, the Nun Attax tape is
easily the most requested item on this website. The Fanning session really needs
to be released!
We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can use, or spare copies of any releases, then please get in touch.