The small Westmeath village of Ballymore has been synonymous with country music over the decades. Back in the late 1970s it was the pioneer of the big open-air festivals and was easily the main forerunner of these ventures that have sprouted again over the last ten years.

When the Ballymore Country Music Festival was revived some years back, the August bank holiday Monday was pencilled in as the natural date for the event, just as it was all those years ago.

Nathan Carter and his band will headline the 2019 Ballymore Festival on 5 August. It has been another busy and hectic year for Nathan who also has his own concert and dancing weekend in the INEC in Killarney from the 27-29 September.

The Carter on the Costa week in Hotel Amaragua in Torremolinos from 20-26 October is already sold out. This is an annual event organised by Enjoy Travel and also features a host of other artists. In November, the Nathan Carter and Daniel O’Donnell Tour to Branson will see them joined by many followers for this special venture to Missouri.

This year’s Ballymore Festival also welcomes back regular favourites such as Robert Mizzell, Michael English and Jimmy Buckley, all three of whom are very busy on the regional and countrywide circuit this summer.

Nathan Carter performing at The INEC. \ Sean Smyth

Louisiana native Robert Mizzell is enjoying a big response to his current single, The Farmer, a song penned by Nuala Woods from the Armagh-Louth border region. The song serenades the role of the farmer in the life of the country and also recalls fond memories of life on the farm in former times.

Cliona Hagan, who enjoyed a major profile through her involvement in Dancing with the Stars on RTÉ earlier this year, returns to her country roots for the Ballymore Festival and it will be country music all the way from the lady from Tyrone.

Johnny Brady packed a punch with his up-tempo take on country music and the man from Antrim delivers a high energetic performance at all his concert shows.

The wonderfully talented Sheerin family will be on home ground here in Ballymore and patrons are assured of a top-class performance from these festival favourites.

Gates open at noon and the show gets underway at 1pm. Tickets are €25 and country aficionados can look forward to an excellent show and warm hospitality at Ballymore Festival on Monday 5 August.