Two of the biggest names ever in Irish country music, Big Tom and Margo O’Donnell, are the bill toppers at the annual Michael Commins concert shows in the Salthill Hotel, Galway, on Sunday and Monday 13 and 14 November. They will be joined by a host of other well known names for the shows of the year on the shores of Galway Bay.

This will be Margo’s first performance at the shows, and there has been a huge response to the news.

The “Girl from Donegal”, who will headline the Sunday night concert, has always had a great rapport with people from the west of Ireland, and is assured of a massive reception when she arrives on stage.

She has a special affinity with Galway and Mayo and resided for a time in Galway back the years.

The Sunday night features an array of wonderful talent from all over the island of Ireland, ranging from Antrim down to Cork. Renowned Derry singer Joe Moore will perform a selection of Merle Haggard songs in tribute to the American legend who died earlier this year.

true voice of country

Tony Kerr from Antrim, one of the true voices of country music, is back by popular demand. Marc Roberts, the former Irish Eurovision performer and presenter with Galway Bay Radio, makes his debut on these shows. While Annmarie O’Riordan (Cork), Kevin Prendergast, John Kelly (Knock), and Mary Prendergast (Waterford) are also on the bill.

Matthew O’Donnell from Connemara, the young 19-year-old who is making a big name for himself, makes his debut on the Novembers shows.

Back by popular demand is Pat Keane from Caherlistrane, who released his first album earlier this year. He is a brother of Dolores, Seán and Matt of the well-known Galway family.

Dan and Mary Sheerin from Westmeath will make their debut at the shows. They are parents to a family of 11 (some of whom make up The Sheerin Family band) and they are sure to get a great reception on the night.

Pat Ely is warmly regarded by country music aficionados in Ireland. The Tipperary native was lead singer with The Smokey Mountain Ramblers, the first all-country band on the Irish circuit.

This year marks the golden jubilee of Old Man Trouble, sung by Doc Carroll and The Royal Blues, the first song by a West of Ireland band to reach No 1 in the Irish charts. Bandleader from back then, Frank Gill (a native of Claremorris), will also be on stage.

standing ovations

Ireland’s King of Country, Big Tom, is the headline act on the Monday night. Standing ovations always greet Big Tom in Galway with the first coming before he even makes it onto the stage. Tom was honoured some months ago with the inaugural RTE ICMA Country Music Hall of Fame award.

Thousands of cards and letters poured into his home in Oram, Castleblayney, on the recent occasion of his 80th birthday. Big Tom is truly one of our national treasures, and it is a huge privilege to have him as a guest performer in Salthill.

This night is closing in on a sell-out with another top-class line-up that includes John Glenn from Armagh, a regular at the November shows each year and Dermot Hegarty of 21 Years fame who is coming over from England for the night. Sam O’Doherty from Tipperary always gets a terrific response from the Salthill audiences.

special favourites

Pat McKenna (The Wind On The Hill), Matt Keane, Nan Tom, and Catriona Canavan are special favourites with audiences while the brilliant Cork showman, Art Supple, makes his first appearance on the Salthill shows. So too does his fellow county man, Tony Stevens, one of the true gentlemen of the showbiz scene.

Making their debut on the Salthill shows on the Monday night will be Valerie Seale (Galway), Kay Carey (Erris) and Tomás Langan (Castlebar).

Gene Stuart, who died last February, will be remembered in a special way on both nights.

The Tyrone legend was part of all the shows from their inception and was always accorded a tremendous reception at the concerts in the Salthill Hotel.

There will be the regular afternoon sessions in the bar from 3pm to 5.30pm on both days as well as music and dancing in the lounge after the concerts on both nights, with Mick Mulhern and Friends leading the way.

The annual shows attract patrons from every county in Ireland as well as some from the UK and the USA, and they have become part of the social calendar or the western province in recentl years. CL

find out more

Tickets are €30 for each show and are now available from the Salthill Hotel (091) 522 711 and the regular outlets in Galway and Mayo. They can also be had from ticketmaster outlets or ordered direct from Patsy Brown on 086 1551841.