The inaugural RTÉ Irish Country Music Awards, in association with the Irish Farmers Journal, will be like a mid summer’s night dream for many who have longed to see their favourite music take centre stage on the national platform.

With just over two weeks to go to the big show on Friday 24 June, the countdown is well and truly underway. Plans are being finalised for what will represent a major production by RTÉ and a massive promotion campaign is also being rolled out across the country.

No effort is being spared in bringing viewers a special night of music and broadening the appeal of the genre all across the island of Ireland. No one will be left in any doubt as to the enduring appeal of country music and its place in the hearts of so many Irish people at home and overseas.

RTÉ is expecting a huge audience to tune in on 24 June, and those associated with the show are promising a spectacular production and a night to remember and cherish.

A toast to the host

Daniel O’Donnell is the host for the night and he has been busy preparing for the show with the production team in Dublin. The Donegal man will be very much at home in familiar company and he will bring his own professionalism to bear on the proceedings.

With so many of the major names on the Irish circuit descending on RTÉ for the big night, it is confidently predicted that the Country Awards Show will attract remarkable figures on its debut.

The show will also offer a welcome change and some pleasant entertainment in the middle of the European Cup soccer campaign (24 Friday is a free day on that front) with some big GAA championships matches also on the Saturday and Sunday of that weekend.

Listen to an interview with Daniel O'Donnell in our podcast below:

Growing the industry

With the country music outreach broadening all the time through dedicated channels like Phil Mack’s Keep It Country (Sky 389) as well as through the regular country shows on Irish TV (Sky 191) and Showbiz (Sky 266), together with the array of country shows on regional and internet radio stations, the time has never been more ripe for the long established national broadcasters to take cognisance of the state of play right now.

Here at the Irish Farmers Journal, we continue to lend wholehearted support to all segments of the country scene, with weekly updates from Antrim down to Cork. Over the last five years we have featured news on solo singers, small groups, as well as the bigger bands.

We also ensure that those who put down the foundations in former times are never forgotten either. Several of these people have been honoured at the annual Journal Country Sound awards in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone.

Cast your vote

Thousands of votes are being cast in the Entertainer of the Year and the Favourite Country Song categories, which are open to the public via the website www.farmersjournal.ie/countrymusic. The level of interest in these categories, together with the volume of entries being received for the audience tickets competition, is quite phenomenal. It all points to a truly special night on RTÉ (9.30pm to 11pm) on Friday 24 June.

Video of the Year

The Video of the Year category will be watched closely by both artists and camera/film producers, all of whom invest heavily in this side of the business. All of the nominees have featured widely on the various country shows on Sky TV over the last 18 months. The five nominees for the award are: Áine Crehan (Gravy), Jim Devine (You Belong To Me), Robert Mizzell (Day Job), Niamh McGlinchey (These Boots Were Made for Walkin’), and Cliona Hagan (We’re All Gonna Die Someday).

Live Act nominees

The Live Act of the Year features five nominees who have enjoyed loads of success during the past year. Those in the running for the award are Mike Denver, Derek Ryan, Nathan Carter, Michael English and Johnny Brady.