These are renaissance days for Simon Casey. The Offaly man has enjoyed a surge in popularity in 2018 including a performance at the Women and Ag Conference 2018, 15 years after he first became a national name on the circuit when he reached the final of the RTÉ You’re A Star in 2003.

Recent days saw him perform for Juan Manual Santos, the former president of Colombia and a Nobel Peace Laureate who was in Ireland to accept the Tipperary Peace Award at a gala evening in the Excel Theatre in Tipperary Town.

It was a poignant and moving occasion as Simon, joined by Hollywood actor Patrick Bergin, delivered their latest single, Tipperary Waltz, to a very appreciative audience.

The sombre waltz was composed by Patrick to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I. It is set in the era when Patrick’s uncle, Hugh, came back a shocked and damaged man after being involved in the Battle of the Somme.

Simon and Patrick were invited by the organisers of the well-established Tipperary Peace Awards to perform the song at the ceremonies at which Juan Manual Santos was the distinguished guest of honour.

The former Colombian president, who brokered a peace deal which ended 50 years of guerrilla warfare, told the gathering in Tipperary that the peace process in Northern Ireland played a key role in inspiring the peace effort in Colombia.

“It was a very special occasion for Patrick and I, and it was a real privilege to meet Mr Santos who was so relaxed and so grateful to those who bestowed this special honour on him,” said Simon.

Locals were also pleased to meet Patrick Bergin, the actor who was born in Dublin and lived for many years in America.

He starred with Julia Roberts in the movie, Sleeping with the Enemy, and has also featured in Eastenders, as well as in many other roles during his long career. He currently resides in a castle near Cloughjordan.

The latest chapter in Simon’s career followed on from the success of his single, The Third Dance from the End, a song composed by Noel O’Farrell from Mullingar.

“People loved the sentiment of the song and it my most-requested number in the last year,” states Simon.

Simon is a member of the Take It To The Limit Tour celebrating the music of The Eagles, which will be playing shows all over Ireland in the weeks ahead. He is joined by Johnny Brady and Nigel Connell for the show, which also features six brothers from the famous Sheerin Family from Westmeath: Paul, Des, Danny, Kieran, Tom and Simon.

Their inaugural show on the tour played to a sell-out audience in the Tullamore Court Hotel, where all nine were given a tremendous reception by the hugely appreciative audience. Classic songs from The Eagles repertoire like Take It To The Limit, Hotel California, Take It Easy, Lyin’ Eyes, New Kid In Town, Desperado and many more got a huge response from the audience.

“The reaction has been unbelievable,” says Simon. “The shows in Tullamore, Omagh and Trim were truly special for us. The music of The Eagles has always resonated with the Irish people. It is a combination of factors that is making this tour so special. We are looking forward to our next show in the INEC in Killarney on Thursday 6 December, which is being filmed for TG4.”