Holycross Cut Loose
Festival
Sunday, 31 July: Three years in the waiting and the folks down in Tipperary are, in every sense of the word, ready to ‘cut loose’ in style. The folks in the Premier County were the pioneers of the modern big outdoor country music festival a decade ago and the Holycross Cut Loose Festival still retains a unique aura to this day.
Back in the late 1970s, the small village of Ballymore, a few miles from Moate in Co Westmeath, were to the forefront in the promotion of such major festivals. These ventures went into decline in the late 1980 and throughout the 1990s and ony began to enjoy a revival with the visionary foresight of the promoters of the Tipperary festival.
Michael Lowry is no stranger to such events. The long serving TD for Tipperary was the man behind the legendary Féile series of concerts in Semple Stadium in the ?90s, also known as ‘The Trip to Tipp’. These proved hugely popular fund raisers for Semple Stadium and Tipperary GAA.
Michael’s involvement with the promotion of the Cut Loose Country Festival has proven central to its overall success.
“This is our ninth year running the Cut Loose Country Music Festival which has attracted thousands of country music fans to Holycross every year. Our objective is to ensure we provide a spectacular day of entertainment with a stellar line-up of top artists. We have continued to add new offerings each year with 2022 being the best festival yet,” says Michael.
Nathan Carter headlines a stellar line-up of top artists
Nathan Carter returns as the headline act this year as the Cut Loose Festival springs back to life. The vast majority of people have now made up their own minds to get on with normal living and crowds are once again returning to music and sporting events as they did prior to March 2020.
John Farry, manager of Nathan, says they are delighted to be heading to Holycross for the big festival on the last day in July.“The Cut Loose Country Festival is a fantastic country music event and the overall set-up by the organisers is exceptional. We didn’t hesitate when we were invited to return and are thrilled to be headlining the event once again in 2022.”
Joining Nathan on the bill for the big day at Holycross GAA Park are Jimmy Buckley, Louise Morrissey, Robert Mizzell, Michael English, Clodagh Lawlor, Olivia Douglas, Claudia Buckley, Muriel O’Connor and Fran Curry for the festival that is once again shaping up to be the leader of the summer outdoor country circuit.
Gates open at 11am for this unique, outdoor event and non-stop entertainment will be provided throughout the day until 7.30pm. A large dance-floor will facilitate those that wish to dance to the performances and ample seating is also available.
Concert-goers will enjoy easy access to and from the festival venue with ample parking on-site, in addition to a host of hospitality facilities that includes a full alcohol licence and food services. Tickets are €25 including online booking fee and are available on www.tickets.ie
The Tipperary love affair with country music is on a par with their fondness for hurling. Keep on the sunny side!
The Mullingar Fleadh
31 July - 7 August: Mullingar is all set to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireannas as thousands prepare to descend on the Westmeath town for the annual celebration of Irish music, song and dance.
The Fleadh is the biggest celebration of Irish music on the island of Ireland and this year sees it return to where it all began back in 1951.
Westmeath international duo, Foster and Allen, have just released a new single celebrating the occasion and, appropriately enough, called The Mullingar Fleadh.
The song was composed by Scottish native, Moyra Frazer, and Bridget Walsh from Castlepollard. Sadly, Bridget passed away in 2021.
Mick Foster takes lead on the new song. He has very special memories of the Fleadh as he won his first Leinster Junior Accordion championship in Portarlington back in 1963, and the Junior All Ireland title in Clones the following year in 1964. He later won the national senior titles in Clones in 1968 and in Listowel in 1970.
“We had a grand time recording the song and shooting the video to go with it,” says Mick. “The enthusiasm was infectious and reflects the goodwill and fervour for the hosting of the Fleadh in Mullingar. We are all looking forward to a mighty few days in the town.”
Rachel Goode has just released a new single, Climb That Mountain High.
Climb That Mountain High
/ Rachel Goode
These are busy times for Ballinasloe singer, Rachel Goode. The lady who has performed on a regular basis with the Irish National Opera has been gaining a major reputation on the country circuit over the last two years.
Rachel, who was also a finalist in the Irish Euro Song Contest a few months ago, has just released a new single, Climb That Mountain High, a number that comes from the Reba McEntire songbook.
Her rendition of the Lovesick Blues classic by Hank Williams and Patsy Cline is going down a treat at her shows and plans are in place to record this song in the weeks ahead.
Read more
Country Sound: Marty brings his party on the road
TR Dallas is back on the road again
Holycross Cut Loose
Festival
Sunday, 31 July: Three years in the waiting and the folks down in Tipperary are, in every sense of the word, ready to ‘cut loose’ in style. The folks in the Premier County were the pioneers of the modern big outdoor country music festival a decade ago and the Holycross Cut Loose Festival still retains a unique aura to this day.
Back in the late 1970s, the small village of Ballymore, a few miles from Moate in Co Westmeath, were to the forefront in the promotion of such major festivals. These ventures went into decline in the late 1980 and throughout the 1990s and ony began to enjoy a revival with the visionary foresight of the promoters of the Tipperary festival.
Michael Lowry is no stranger to such events. The long serving TD for Tipperary was the man behind the legendary Féile series of concerts in Semple Stadium in the ?90s, also known as ‘The Trip to Tipp’. These proved hugely popular fund raisers for Semple Stadium and Tipperary GAA.
Michael’s involvement with the promotion of the Cut Loose Country Festival has proven central to its overall success.
“This is our ninth year running the Cut Loose Country Music Festival which has attracted thousands of country music fans to Holycross every year. Our objective is to ensure we provide a spectacular day of entertainment with a stellar line-up of top artists. We have continued to add new offerings each year with 2022 being the best festival yet,” says Michael.
Nathan Carter headlines a stellar line-up of top artists
Nathan Carter returns as the headline act this year as the Cut Loose Festival springs back to life. The vast majority of people have now made up their own minds to get on with normal living and crowds are once again returning to music and sporting events as they did prior to March 2020.
John Farry, manager of Nathan, says they are delighted to be heading to Holycross for the big festival on the last day in July.“The Cut Loose Country Festival is a fantastic country music event and the overall set-up by the organisers is exceptional. We didn’t hesitate when we were invited to return and are thrilled to be headlining the event once again in 2022.”
Joining Nathan on the bill for the big day at Holycross GAA Park are Jimmy Buckley, Louise Morrissey, Robert Mizzell, Michael English, Clodagh Lawlor, Olivia Douglas, Claudia Buckley, Muriel O’Connor and Fran Curry for the festival that is once again shaping up to be the leader of the summer outdoor country circuit.
Gates open at 11am for this unique, outdoor event and non-stop entertainment will be provided throughout the day until 7.30pm. A large dance-floor will facilitate those that wish to dance to the performances and ample seating is also available.
Concert-goers will enjoy easy access to and from the festival venue with ample parking on-site, in addition to a host of hospitality facilities that includes a full alcohol licence and food services. Tickets are €25 including online booking fee and are available on www.tickets.ie
The Tipperary love affair with country music is on a par with their fondness for hurling. Keep on the sunny side!
The Mullingar Fleadh
31 July - 7 August: Mullingar is all set to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireannas as thousands prepare to descend on the Westmeath town for the annual celebration of Irish music, song and dance.
The Fleadh is the biggest celebration of Irish music on the island of Ireland and this year sees it return to where it all began back in 1951.
Westmeath international duo, Foster and Allen, have just released a new single celebrating the occasion and, appropriately enough, called The Mullingar Fleadh.
The song was composed by Scottish native, Moyra Frazer, and Bridget Walsh from Castlepollard. Sadly, Bridget passed away in 2021.
Mick Foster takes lead on the new song. He has very special memories of the Fleadh as he won his first Leinster Junior Accordion championship in Portarlington back in 1963, and the Junior All Ireland title in Clones the following year in 1964. He later won the national senior titles in Clones in 1968 and in Listowel in 1970.
“We had a grand time recording the song and shooting the video to go with it,” says Mick. “The enthusiasm was infectious and reflects the goodwill and fervour for the hosting of the Fleadh in Mullingar. We are all looking forward to a mighty few days in the town.”
Rachel Goode has just released a new single, Climb That Mountain High.
Climb That Mountain High
/ Rachel Goode
These are busy times for Ballinasloe singer, Rachel Goode. The lady who has performed on a regular basis with the Irish National Opera has been gaining a major reputation on the country circuit over the last two years.
Rachel, who was also a finalist in the Irish Euro Song Contest a few months ago, has just released a new single, Climb That Mountain High, a number that comes from the Reba McEntire songbook.
Her rendition of the Lovesick Blues classic by Hank Williams and Patsy Cline is going down a treat at her shows and plans are in place to record this song in the weeks ahead.
Read more
Country Sound: Marty brings his party on the road
TR Dallas is back on the road again
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