Wedding bells ring out for Annmarie

These are exciting times for Cork singer, Annmarie O’Riordan. Some weeks ago she married Anthony Holmes from Murroe, Co Limerick, at a lovely ceremony in Dromagh Chapel. Anthony plays guitar with her band and the newlyweds will reside in Annmarie’s home village of Rathcoole, a few miles from Mallow.

Annmarie gained countrywide recognition in 2008 for her recording of the JJ Reidy song, The Story I Tell You Is True, while still in her teenage years. It remains her ‘calling card’ to this day and still goes down a treat at all venues.

Her brand-new single, Do You Hear the Robin Sing, is a country song penned by Porter Wagoner and recorded by Dolly Parton back the years. Cover versions here in Ireland were recorded in former times by Big Tom, John Glenn and Margo.

Annmarie, who is a teacher in Kanturk National School, has charmed audiences from America to Canada and The Azores with her haunting brand of traditional songs, sung from the heart in her strong Cork accent. Her rendition of The Chapel Gates of Cooraclare is always a show-stopper.

Her new album will be launched in the INEC Acoustic Club, Killarney, on 25 September, where she will be joined by guest artists for this special night.

Killarney set to welcome host of country stars

The Michael Commins Concert Shows are heading for the Gleneagle INEC in Killarney on Monday and Tuesday night, 29 and 30 August. For over a decade these shows have captivated audiences in Galway and Mayo and this marks the first time they have travelled outside of the western province.

The show on Monday 29 August features Brendan Shine, Gerry Guthrie, Art Supple, Tony Kerr, Louise Morrissey, Lisa Stanley, PJ Murrihy, Thomas McBride Jnr, Olivia Douglas, Aisling Rafferty, Ross Molloy, Paudie McAuliffe, Gavin Gribben, Noreen Ashe, and the Ryan Turner Band.

The Tuesday night sees another brilliant line-up featuring John Glenn, Declan Nerney, Sandy Kelly, Paddy O’Brien, Eddie Lee, Annmarie O’Riordan, Matt Keane, Pat McKenna, Muriel O’Connor and Fran Curry, Mick Mulhern, Elle Marie O’Dwyer, Aoife Leonard, Matthew O’Donnell, Kevin Prendergast, Richard Mulligan, the Ryan Turner Band and Billy Condon.

Tickets are now available from the Gleneagle INEC box office (064 6671555) and Ticketmaster.

Johnny Barry was a Kilkenny legend

Johnny Barry, whose sudden death came as a huge shock to the people of Kilkenny, was a popular country music broadcaster on KCLR for many years. Johnny was truly one of the grand ‘old stock’ who had such a passion for country music and Irish ballads.

He was a legendary late-night broadcaster on KCLR (Kilkenny Carlow Local Radio) for many years and these shows provided a huge platform for so many singers and musicians. He had a folksy manner that endeared him to so many people.

Johnny was like a regular visitor on weekends into the homes of so many people in that part of the country via his popular shows. It was almost as if he was there with them sitting by the fireside.

Some weeks earlier, Kilkenny County Council had honoured Johnny with a special reception in appreciation of his contribution to life in the region through his radio shows for more than three decades. The station also held a special tribute to him three weeks before his passing at the age of 80.

KCLR relayed his funeral Mass live on the station and among those who joined in the special tributes to him in St Mary’s Church in Kilkenny were Daniel O’Donnell and Michael English.

Johnny Barry was ‘old school’ but he commanded a fiercely loyal late-night audience not only in Kilkenny and Carlow but also in the neighbouring counties of Waterford, Laois, Wexford, Tipperary and further afield. His famous saying after every song was, “I hope ye enjoyed that one there now.” Thousands sure did just that, Johnny.

Remembering Judith Durham

The news of the passing in recent days of Judith Durham in Australia evoked a huge outpouring of sadness around many parts of the English speaking world. Judith was the lead singer with the folk group, The Seekers, who recorded so many classics back in the 1960s and retained a huge fan base all through the decades.

Among their many hits were A World Of Our Own, I’ll Never Find Another You, The Carnival Is Over, Georgy Girl, Morningtown Ride, and South Australia. Judith was 79. CL

Eddie Lee was a member of the Johnny Reidy Band for many years as well as The Kingdom Céilí Band..

Eddie Lee celebrates jubilee in Kerry

The well-known Kerry country singer, Eddie Lee, celebrated 50 years on the music scene in the Stretford End Bar in Causeway last Friday night. There was a capacity crowd present for the celebrations as people travelled from various parts of the country to salute the man from Ballyheigue.

Eddie, who has a strong affinity with the farming communities throughout the Munster region, started out on his music career as a teenager in the early 1970s and it has been the main part of his life for the last five decades. He has recorded several albums and also has his own studios where he produces albums for various other entertainers.

Eddie is also well known on the céilí circuit and was a member of the Johnny Reidy Band for many years as well as The Kingdom Céilí Band.

Eddie was joined on the night by the Paudie Coffey Band, Noreen Ashe, Paudie McAuliffe, PJ Murrihy, Mike Condon, Mike Fitzgerald, Catriona O’Donovan, Ann Dillane, and Tara and Leanne.

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