Anne Nolan’s daughter Amy has teamed up with her aunt Denise Nolan to recreate a well-loved 1984 picture as a surprise 70th birthday present for her mum.
Amy, 39, was two when she replaced poorly Anne in a photoshoot.
Now the famous sisters, dubbed Ireland’s First Family of Music, have recreated the image with the original snapper Mike Alsford.
Amy said: “Back in 1984 at Torquay’s Princess Theatre, mum wasn’t well.
“So the photographer had the brilliant idea of putting me in the middle.
“It was one of those iconic pictures that became a favourite for all of us.
"The only problem was mum wasn’t there.
“So I had the idea of restaging it.
"It worked out despite lockdown.
“Quest Red began a second series on the sisters at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens theatre.
“So I tracked down Mike Alsford working in Devon.
“He loved the idea and told me it was one of his favourite pictures too. It had made over half page in the Daily Mirror at the time.
“The TV production company was so taken with the idea that they brought him up to Blackpool and incorporated it in their filming.
“They also paid for a big framed blow-up to be presented to mum. She was really thrilled.
“The only downside was that sadly her sister, auntie Bernadette, had recently died of cancer. Mum has also been diagnosed, but so far she is keeping it at bay.”
Anne Nolan bit back the tears when her special 70th birthday present was revealed on set .
“It was a wonderful surprise. I always regretted not being in that original group shot” said the matriarch of the Nolan clan.
She added: "I really wasn’t feeling well that day so I let Amy go in my place. But I’m glad I did.
“Her obvious joy and excitement was what made the photo so memorable. And it was perfect to have the same photographer again after all these years.
“The production company are having the latest shot being blown and framed for me.
“It was a lovely moment in what has been a traumatic year for our family.”
She revealed this month her cancer had “disappeared” after she and Linda were both diagnosed.
Bernie died from the disease in 2013.
*The final episode of four part At Home With The Nolans will be shown on Tuesday December 22, on Red Quest Channel at 10pm
