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Back at birthplace of Cookstown to do book signing 150 150 mhamer

Back at birthplace of Cookstown to do book signing

lovely afternoon at Sheehy’s Bookstore in Cookstown Co Tyrone, which is my birthplace, with the owner and organiser, (known as TP), Tom, alongside all his close family and staff members who made us feel so welcome!

Jimmy Cricket returned to his roots for a book signing of his autobiography.

The famous Northern Irish comedian was in Cookstown in County Tyrone late last week.

Sheehys on William Street hosted the event.

Jimmy said afterwards: “Lovely afternoon at Sheehys Bookstore in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, which is my birthplace.”

He is pictured above with the owner and organiser Tom (known as TP), alongside the latter’s close family and staff members.

50 Golden Years

Jimmy’s autobiography, Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian, tells the heart-warming story of his illustrious life and career.

The book is available from online retailer Amazon here.

The Jimmy Cricket Story is the famous comedian's official autobiographyThe page promoting Jimmy’s autobiography says: “This book is a personally written account of Jimmy’s 50 Golden Years in showbusiness.

“From holiday camp Redcoat to Bluecoat, then on to his first big break on television, (after many struggles).

“Going on to headline for four of his own series for Central television in the 1980s with Royal Command Performances and TV Variety shows in between.

“Then his BBC Radio 2 series written by the great scriptwriter Eddie Braben in the 1990s which ran for five years called, Jimmy’s Cricket Team.

“As Jimmy says himself in the book: I hope it brings back warm memories for older readers’.

Poorest communities

“‘And gives a taste to younger readers of a form of entertainment that seemed to vanish before our very eyes.'”

A reminder that Jimmy’s book is available on Amazon here. 

The paperback version is priced at £11.99.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

The charity supports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

A Kindle version is also available. A Kindle – developed by Amazon – is a small, hand-held electronic device for reading books.

Also read: From bingo caller to 50 Golden Years in showbiz!

Cookstown family businesses included a bar & undertakers! 150 150 mhamer

Cookstown family businesses included a bar & undertakers!

Cookstown in Northern Ireland, where Jimmy Cricket was bornJimmy Cricket was reminded of his childhood with a memory-evoking image taken of Cookstown, the County Tyrone town in which he was grew up.

The Northern Irish comedian was born James Mulgrew in Cookstown on 17 October 1945.

Now a popular all-round entertainer, Jimmy said he was recently sent the photograph seen here on the right.

He added: “As you can see, there’s a parade going through the town.

“But, if you look up, you can clearly see the name Mulgrew.

“My parents owned a bar and had an undertaking business at the back.

“And it didn’t finish there – my father was also a taxi driver and an auctioneer. He had four jobs!

“He was an entrepreneur and a character in Cookstown.”

Jimmy left school at 16 years of age and worked for the next two years in a betting shop.

He spent the summer of 1966 working as a Redcoat in Butlin’s holiday camp in County Meath.

That was followed by two more summers at the Butlin’s holiday camp in Essex.

By the early 1970s, he was living in Manchester and from 1972 worked at the Pontins holiday camps in Southport and Morecambe.

He became a household name though his TV series on Central Television in the mid-1980s called And There’s More.

Jimmy ended up settling in Rochdale in the North-West of England with his wife, May, herself a professional singer.

Also read: You Must Be Joking comedians meet up in Cookstown

Find out more about Jimmy’s life here

Sellout for comedy tour’s opening night 150 150 mhamer

Sellout for comedy tour’s opening night

Jimmy Cricket, John Linehan (aka May McFettridge), William Caulfield and Gene Fitzpatrick

The You Must Be Joking tour that reunited Jimmy Cricket with three fellow well-known Northern Ireland comedians had a first-night sellout.

Jimmy Cricket and fellow entertainers

Jimmy headlined the series of comedy shows, which also featured John Linehan (aka May McFettridge), William Caulfield and Gene Fitzpatrick.

It was a recreation of a successful format that was part of the 2013 Cookstown Comedy Festival.

The tour was hosted by four major theatres across Northern Ireland, with the opening night playing to a full house at the Grand Opera House in Belfast.

It then visited Newtonabbey and Derry before ending with a trip to the Market Place Arts Centre in Armagh.

The quartet of entertainers also appeared on the Gerry Kelly radio show at the BBC Radio Ulster studio in Belfast.

The tour was organised by Northern Ireland’s premier promotions company, David Hull Promotions, who are based in Belfast.

Jimmy Cricket and fellow entertainers

Book now to see Jimmy in action 150 150 mhamer

Book now to see Jimmy in action

Jimmy Cricket's shows in the first part of 2015

The first venue that famous comedian Jimmy Cricket will be visiting for his 2015 shows around the UK is the Plaza Theatre in Stockport on Sunday (25 January).

With the show scheduled for a 3pm start, there is the chance to have Sunday lunch with all the family, then go along to see him and laugh away the calories! Tickets are priced at £10 (£5 for under 16s).

Jimmy embarks on a tour of Northern Ireland with the You Must Be Joking show next week.

When the veteran entertainer visits the charming Lamproom Theatre in South Yorkshire during February, he will feature in a format that will afford the audience an opportunity to ask him a question, as he brings his Audience with show to the Barnsley region.

Jimmy’s trip to the Victoria Theatre in Halifax on 25 March will be part of a Music Hall show that his good friend, Neil Hurst, is organising.

And he is also looking forward to visiting Bexhill-on-Sea, where the team behind the Bexhill Festival of Music are organising the show he will headline in April.

All the other venues on the list shown above right will also present Jimmy’s Value for a Tenner show.

So if you live in one of the regions Jimmy will be visiting during the first half of 2015, do go along and see him in action.

Comedy show to return? You Must Be Joking! 150 150 mhamer

Comedy show to return? You Must Be Joking!

Jimmy is being reunited with fellow Northern Ireland comedians John Linehan (aka May McFetteridge), William Caulfield and Gene Fitzpatrick to create the You Must be Joking show that will tour Northern Ireland in early 2015

Jimmy Cricket is to be reunited with fellow Northern Ireland comedians John Linehan (aka May McFettridge), William Caulfield and Gene Fitzpatrick to produce the You Must Be Joking tour of the province in early 2015.

The event will see the recreation of a successful show that was part of the 2013 Cookstown Comedy Festival (above).

It featured all four comedians in one unique evening of comedy.

Famous entertainer Jimmy said: “As expected, the show was a complete sellout and it was always the plan to tour it around the province at some point in the future.

“With the tour dates now set, it is time to get those chuckle muscles flexed!”

The You Must Be Joking tour schedule:

Wed 28 January Grand Opera House, Belfast
Thu 29 January – Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey
Sat 31 January – Millennium Theatre, Derry (Londonderry)
Sun 1 February – Market Place Theatre, Armagh

Jimmy is also squeezing in an additional date with his own stand-up show, which is scheduled for Friday 30 January at the Ranfurly Arts Centre in Dungannon.

This extra date will see Jimmy visit the county from where he hails, as he was born down the road from Dungannon in the town of Cookstown in County Tyrone.

Grand finale with a saxophone! 150 150 mhamer

Grand finale with a saxophone!

Jimmy Cricket with Clubsound in Northern Ireland

Famous comedian Jimmy Cricket on his saxophone with showband Clubsound on his Northern Ireland tour

Jimmy Cricket ended the second leg of a tour of Northern Ireland in some style.

The entertainer had been touring the province along with popular showband Clubsound.

The tour was organised in two parts, with the first back in early March and the second during the middle of April.

There was great camaraderie between the boys of Clubsound and Jimmy – and they even performed a grand finale together, with the Northern Irish funnyman playing his saxophone (picture above) at the Burnavon Theatre in Cookstown.

Below, Jimmy is shown being presented with a special honour by Cllr Tony Quinn, the chairman of Cookstown Council. The plaque was awarded to Jimmy as a famous son of his birthplace.

Jimmy Cricket collects his Cookstown award

Putting in some overtime! 150 150 mhamer

Putting in some overtime!

Jimmy Cricket and Northern Irish comedienne Victoria ArmstrongJimmy Cricket found the time to fit in an extra performance during a recent trip to Northern Ireland.

He was in the province for the second leg of a tour with the showband, Clubsound, and ended up headlining a show at the Newforge Country Club in South Belfast which was compered by Northern Irish comedienne Victoria Armstrong (pictured right with Jimmy).

Famous Irish comedian Jimmy said: “The event was a fundraising event organised by Paul McCarron who is an emerging comedy prospect in the province in his own right.

“He put a great concert together and everyone at the event had a splendid evening.

“I was able to fit in this event as an additional commitment and was really pleased the schedule allowed me to appear in Paul’s show.

“I wish Paul all the very best with his comedy career and with all the fundraising he is involved with.”