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Dermot Francis Roche, known to his friends and family as “Derm,” was born on 11 April 1928 and lived his life in the community of Branch—the place he called “a piece of heaven.” It was there that he met and married his wife, Rita. It was also where they built their home and raised their eight children. He worked as a truck driver, which meant that he often was away from home.
Dermot was involved in local politics, serving as the mayor of Branch on a number of occasions, as well as on the town council. He was an avid advocate for his community, and played a major role in advocating for the road that now connects Branch and North Harbour—an essential link to the rest of Newfoundland for the people of Branch.
In his free time, Derm enjoyed fly fishing in Branch’s salmon river. Over the years, he patiently taught family and strangers alike the art of casting.
Three of Dermot’s children—Karen, John, and Paula—shared this description of Derm’s musical life:
"Dermot developed his love of traditional music while growing up in Branch, an isolated community along the Cape Shore. Kitchen parties were a regular part of life in Branch, and songs, music, and dance were handed down from generation to generation. Derm’s mother, Mary Ellen Roche, was considered a great accordion player. She played for the local dances and events, and it was said that she could make the accordion talk! As children, Dermot and his siblings sang songs at bedtime, and people from the local community would sometimes stop to listen.
As an adult, Dermot learned new songs in the camps while working away from home. People from all over also stayed at these camps and during their down time, they would sing and swap songs, as well as have step-dancing competitions!
Dermot, along with his sisters-in-law Lucy Nash and Mary Power, and with Mary’s husband, Anthony, formed the traditional Newfoundland dance team called ‘The Branch Crowd.’ They performed the Lancers and the Square Set—set dances associated with Newfoundland and particularly with Branch—at events such as the St John’s Folk Festival; they even travelled to the Mariposa Festival in Toronto.
When he was at home, Dermot especially loved ‘the time’—the Newfoundland name for a kitchen party—held at his house or other homes along the Cape Shore. These events were about sharing the kinship of having friends and family together; they captured the old times by reviving songs, music, and dance. ‘The time’ was a way for us kids to hear about the past in a fun way, but also to learn the songs, music, and dances, so that we could keep the traditions alive.
‘The drunken captain’ was a staple of Dermot’s repertoire of songs, along with ‘The alphabet song,’ and ‘The soldier’s letter,’ to name a few. Although the origins of ‘The drunken captain’ are unknown, it became a signature song for Keith (Derm’s eldest son); after Keith passed, Dermot would sing it as tribute to him."
Dermot died on 7 June 2007.

Founded in 1978 in Temple, Midlothian, Scotland by Robin Morton.