DOLAN 'COMMIE' PROBE.

IRISH intelligence services kept reports of Joe Dolan's tour of Russia in a classified file marked Communist Activities.

The popular singer, who died last Christmas, was the focus of many rumours about his private life but an apparent linking to an underground plot to overthrow global capitalism is probably the most colourful.

G2, the shadowy intelligence branch of the Irish Defence Forces, took an interest in the show band star's movements when he became the first western pop singer to play in Moscow at the height of the Cold War in 1978.

In one of its secret files are several newspaper cut-outs with photographs of the singer's time in the former USSR, where he played 23 concerts over 23 nights in Moscow, Leningrad and Kishinev, the capital of Moldova.

In one of the articles, Dolan tells an interviewer how the Soviet audiences knew all his hits, and even "went wild about the Westmeath Bachelor".

There is no other supporting evidence in the top-secret file of any alleged communist activities by the well-loved crooner, best known for hits like Make Me An Island and You're Such A Good Looking Woman.

BRITAIN'S ambassador to Iran was confident the Shah would survive widespread protests.

Sir Anthony Parsons said in 1978 that there was no "serious risk" of the ruler being ousted.

In January 1979 the Shah was exiled, making way for Islamic rule under Ayatollah Khomeini.

CAPTION(S):

RUSSIAN TOURO Joe Dolan