Career
Joe"s first job was carrying the red warning flag in front of the steam roller, which took him travelling all around the country in a caravan. He took his fiddle on these trips. Some of the fiddle favourites included The Boys of Ballycastle, The Blackberry Blossom, Royal Charlie, Wellington’s Medal and Rodney’s Glory.
Joe later left the roadwork and worked at flax-scutching, first for a small mill near Killyrammer, and then into Milltown Mill, in Ballymoney.
He then took up a healthier job as a green-keeper for Ballymoney Bowling club On the 6th of January, 1980 a radio documentary tribute to Joe Holmes compiled by David Hammond was broadcast on British Broadcasting Corporation Radio Ulster.
Contributors on the programme were Len Graham, Geordie Hanna, Frank Harte, Jeannie McGrath, Sarah Ann O"Neill and Paddy Tunney. The programme was called Joe Holmes: A Parting Glass, British Broadcasting Corporation Programme number: 140U540, Catalogue Number: 9517794, Duration 0:29:08.