BY JOHN McCUSKER

OMAGH'S Horslypse Tribute Act will resurrect a remnant of the town's recent past history when they play an Easter gig in the Top of the Town this weekend. For the lighting rig they will use was rescued from the former Royal Arms Hotel – where the original Horslips performed on stage 34 years ago.

With a four-track demo CD under their belts and an Irish tour planned for later in the year, Horslypse are fast gaining a creditable reputation on the Irish music scene.

Following their last performance in Omagh at Christmas, the band recorded a number of tracks at an all-day session in the Top of the Town. The result was a four-track demo, recorded under the watchful eye of Seamus and Don McGurgan, featuring Trouble (with a Capital T'), Sword of Light, Mad Pat and Dearg Doom. The CD has just this week gone out to local radio stations and initial reaction to the recording has been very favourable.

Now two years together, Horslypse was formed by a group of students from the Christian Brothers Grammar School to perform a one-off show for charity. But due to local and national interest, the band subsequently came together again to play gigs across Ireland.

Horslypse – whose members' ages range from 18-20 years – were invited to perform at the opening of the Horslips Exhibition in Drogheda Arts Centre in October 2005, with all five members of the original Horslips in attendance.

Last year, the band was joined by three of the original Horslips members – Barry Devlin, Jim Lockhart and Johnny Fean – for a one-off gig in St Joseph's Hall in Omagh.

Horslips founder and keyboard player Jim Lockhart described the tribute act's performance as "just knockout," while guitarist Johnny Fean declared "those boys are rockin'."

Admission to Monday night's gig in the Top of the Town is limited and patrons are advised to arrive early to ensure admission.

* Horslypse perform in the Top of

the Town in Omagh on Easter

Monday night and also at the

Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny on Easter Saturday