From Gallows Hill to Nashville, a book celebrating the life and times of country legend Brian Coll, will be launched in his honour in the Great Northern Hotel in Bundoran this weekend. Friends and followers of Brian will congregate at the Bundoran venue on Friday and Saturday, 17 and 18 June, for this special tribute to a true star of Irish country music.

Songs like Cattle Call, Hometown On The Foyle, Someday You’ll Call My Name, The Tears of St Anne, The Hills Around Clonmel, These Are My Mountains, Silver Haired Daddy of Mine, The Blazing Star of Athenry, Ireland Swings, She’s Mine, Sing Me Back Home, The Hangin’ Tree, are just a sample of the favourites synonymous with Brian down through the years.

The man from Tyrone developed personal friendships with Charley Pride and Slim Whitman, two of his American idols, over the years. Like all great artists, Brian has remained true to the spirit of the genre that he fell in love with all those years ago. No question hangs over that loyalty, that dedication, and that absolute love for the music that has shaped his life, the music that has made Brian Coll such an institution on the island of Ireland.

It may be a long way from Gallows Hill in Omagh to Nashville but Brian Coll has covered that distance with panache and style. He truly is a real Irish country legend.

Big Tom lines out for Roscommon Show

Country king Big Tom is to perform a guest spot on the Shannonside-Northern Sound Radio Midsummer’s Day with the Stars. The open-air country music festival takes place at Roscommon Racecourse on Sunday 26 June.

Local promoter Joe Finnegan, announcing Tom’s late addition to the bill, said: “I think all fans of country music will agree that Big Tom is the very essence of what our country scene is all about. I am delighted and proud that he has accepted our invitation to attend the show in Roscommon. It is a huge vote of confidence for the Midsummer’s Day with the Stars as we prepare to stage our fourth consecutive event. We are thrilled to have the undisputed king of country grace the stage in Roscommon on 26 June.”

Big Tom is the featured guest on Shauna’s Country on Sky 389 and Freeview 87 on Friday 18 at 7pm with a repeat on Saturday at 8pm. The show is hosted by Shauna McStravock.

The Roscommon concert, which gets under way at 2pm, also features top names from the Irish country circuit with Nathan Carter, Mike Denver, Jimmy Buckley, Derek Ryan, Lisa McHugh, Robert Mizzell, Patrick Feeney, Jim Devine, Declan Nerney, Johnny Brady, Eamon Jackson, Lee Matthews, Shane Owens, Gerry Guthrie and Marty Moane all performing on the bill.

Roscommon Racecourse will be transformed into a family playground with designated picnic areas and a special children’s play area. The hospitality suites, including bars and restaurants at the race track, will also be open to the public.

Tickets can be had from local and regional outlets as well as purchased at the Shannonside Northern Sound Studios in Longford and Monaghan and on ticketmaster.ie

More details are available on the Shannonside radio website and Facebook page.

Curtis Magee Fanfayre in Coleraine

The 11th annual Curtis Magee Fanfayre takes place in The Lodge Hotel, Coleraine, from Sunday 19 to Wednesday 22 June. Curtis will be joined by a host of friends and followers from all over the UK and Ireland.

The Ulster entertainer has retained a great loyalty down through the years and has also performed on numerous overseas music holiday shows in Spain and Portugal.

Once again, patrons can enjoy four hours of music and dancing nightly in The Lodge Hotel from 9pm to 1am. All nights are open to the public with admission of £10 payable.

A host of friends from the music scene will join Curtis over the four nights and featuring on the Fanfayre this year are Boxcar Brian, Caitlin, Hugo Duncan, Jordan Mogey, Shawn Cuddy, Susan McCann, the Barry Doyle Duo, Johnny McHugh, Gary Wilson, Irene Bates, Country Harmony, Andy Rodgers, and young Owen Mac from Coleraine.

Also joining Curtis for the Fanfayre finish on Wednesday night are his daughters Natasha and Shannon. Full details on the nightly shows can be had by contacting The Lodge Hotel.

James to host Country Gospel Show

Achill native James Kilbane is to host a new Country Gospel Hour on the Keep It Country Channel on Sky 389, Freesat 516 and Freeview 87. The show will debut on Friday 17 June at 9pm with a repeat each Sunday at 4pm.

Shows have already been recorded at some of Mayo and Sligo’s most historic Christian sites including Croagh Patrick, Ballintubber Abbey, Holy Trinity Church in Westport, as well as St John’s Cathedral and the Presbyterian Church in Sligo.

“This is a Christian-based show with a touch of faith and full of country music. I am looking forward to it and I hope to hear from viewers all across Ireland, the UK and Europe,” says the Mayoman ahead of the show making its debut this weekend.