Muriel O’Connor and Fran Curry are fairly representative of many of the artists who play the dancing scene every week. But like everyone else involved in the showbiz scene, they have found their music world at a virtual standstill for the last three months.
“We miss it desperately. We thought we were in heaven for the first few weekends with all the time off but then it really began to hit home. It was not just the music we were missing but the interaction with the people. All the socialising and those who come to loads of our gigs, all of it becomes so much a part of one’s life,” says Fran.
Muriel O'Connor and Fran Curry.
Limerick-based Muriel endorses those sentiments.
“The regular dancers become more than fans, they become your friends. Facebook helps a bit to keep us in touch [with them] as well as the regulars who text and phone.
“I have a diary on the wall with the dates still pencilled in. I look at it and think I should be here or there now. And then it dawned on me that I am here in the office and going nowhere.”
Apart from missing the regular weekly dates around the country, Fran and Muriel have also missed out on some much anticipated trips abroad in April and May.
“We were supposed to be in Portugal and Spain in April and we were also immensely looking forward to a trip on the Danube with Enjoy Travel which would have been a completely new venture for us.
“We were also booked for Billy Morrissey’s trip to Spain in May but all those fell by the wayside because of the coronavirus lockdown. Hopefully, they will be back up and running next year,” reflects Fran.
Muriel is thankful that both she and Fran had some other musical outlets which helped them through the last few months. “Fran is on Tipp FM where he presents five weekly shows while I have been hosting my own show on Tipp Midwest Radio. We also have our regular weekly show on Spotlight TV on Sky 376.
“We are in a lucky situation because at least we can still connect with people through the music. We have also had plenty of time hunting for new songs for our next album.”
The positive role of music in the lives of so many people can never be underestimated, especially at times like this.
“We talk to a lot [of people] and many of them are very down about it. The big question they are asking is when and how will it all come back.
“Most professions and parts of the economy have a date when they can return but, unfortunately, our scene is probably the only one that does not have a return date right now. It is very sad when you hear them say that hotels and bars can return but with no music.
“But I think things are easing out a little bit and that it might move faster than some expect. We can’t wait to be back on the road again,” adds Fran.
And so say all of us!
Hopes for
overseas tours
to be back
in 2021
Paul Claffey.
With a lot of live concerts cancelled
this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul Claffey is positive
that gigs will be back by next year
Tour promoter Paul Claffey is confident that country music revellers will be back in Spain and Portugal in 2021. The Castlerea native, who is CEO of Midwest Radio based in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, has been to the forefront of overseas and home-based package holidays for close on 25 years.
Like everyone else involved in the music scene, the last three months have seen Paul face up to new and unprecedented challenges in the business he has been associated with since his late teenage years.
“I have a sold-out Portugal trip in September but we just do not know where we stand with it at the moment. I am taking to Joe Wash Tours and the hotels and we will make an official announcement about it in the coming days.
“The biggest problem will be social distancing and how flights and hotels will operate. I think it is unfortunate that the music scene will be one of the last to come back. I have no idea when, I suppose a vaccine is our most realistic hope.
“It is having a devastating effect on sun holidays and the entertainment scene in general which is just catastrophic right now.
“I’m involved with the management of Michael English. We can’t plan or do anything. We had the musical, Who Dares to Dream, ready to go in Castlebar at the end of March and had to shelve it. We are hoping that we can go back into rehearsals after Christmas and, hopefully, it will make it to the stage in March or April.”
The bottom line for Paul is that his clientele will feel at ease to return to his regular shows. “It has to be safe for my clients to go to Spain and Portugal and feel comfortable. There is no point going on a holiday and not feeling comfortable. Everything has to be 100% before we attempt to travel.
“I am just hoping that everything will be right for my June trips to Spain in 2021. It is hard to see any way to get around the current situation in the short term. Mike Denver is headlining my first week in June 2021 and Michael English is the headline act for the second week. We have a big line-up of regular acts for both weeks. Like everyone else, we are so looking forward to getting back to normal again.”
For further information, check out
www.paulclaffeytours.com.
Read more
Country Sound: ‘My heart has always been in traditional country music’
Country Sound: king of the radio road
Muriel O’Connor and Fran Curry are fairly representative of many of the artists who play the dancing scene every week. But like everyone else involved in the showbiz scene, they have found their music world at a virtual standstill for the last three months.
“We miss it desperately. We thought we were in heaven for the first few weekends with all the time off but then it really began to hit home. It was not just the music we were missing but the interaction with the people. All the socialising and those who come to loads of our gigs, all of it becomes so much a part of one’s life,” says Fran.
Muriel O'Connor and Fran Curry.
Limerick-based Muriel endorses those sentiments.
“The regular dancers become more than fans, they become your friends. Facebook helps a bit to keep us in touch [with them] as well as the regulars who text and phone.
“I have a diary on the wall with the dates still pencilled in. I look at it and think I should be here or there now. And then it dawned on me that I am here in the office and going nowhere.”
Apart from missing the regular weekly dates around the country, Fran and Muriel have also missed out on some much anticipated trips abroad in April and May.
“We were supposed to be in Portugal and Spain in April and we were also immensely looking forward to a trip on the Danube with Enjoy Travel which would have been a completely new venture for us.
“We were also booked for Billy Morrissey’s trip to Spain in May but all those fell by the wayside because of the coronavirus lockdown. Hopefully, they will be back up and running next year,” reflects Fran.
Muriel is thankful that both she and Fran had some other musical outlets which helped them through the last few months. “Fran is on Tipp FM where he presents five weekly shows while I have been hosting my own show on Tipp Midwest Radio. We also have our regular weekly show on Spotlight TV on Sky 376.
“We are in a lucky situation because at least we can still connect with people through the music. We have also had plenty of time hunting for new songs for our next album.”
The positive role of music in the lives of so many people can never be underestimated, especially at times like this.
“We talk to a lot [of people] and many of them are very down about it. The big question they are asking is when and how will it all come back.
“Most professions and parts of the economy have a date when they can return but, unfortunately, our scene is probably the only one that does not have a return date right now. It is very sad when you hear them say that hotels and bars can return but with no music.
“But I think things are easing out a little bit and that it might move faster than some expect. We can’t wait to be back on the road again,” adds Fran.
And so say all of us!
Hopes for
overseas tours
to be back
in 2021
Paul Claffey.
With a lot of live concerts cancelled
this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul Claffey is positive
that gigs will be back by next year
Tour promoter Paul Claffey is confident that country music revellers will be back in Spain and Portugal in 2021. The Castlerea native, who is CEO of Midwest Radio based in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, has been to the forefront of overseas and home-based package holidays for close on 25 years.
Like everyone else involved in the music scene, the last three months have seen Paul face up to new and unprecedented challenges in the business he has been associated with since his late teenage years.
“I have a sold-out Portugal trip in September but we just do not know where we stand with it at the moment. I am taking to Joe Wash Tours and the hotels and we will make an official announcement about it in the coming days.
“The biggest problem will be social distancing and how flights and hotels will operate. I think it is unfortunate that the music scene will be one of the last to come back. I have no idea when, I suppose a vaccine is our most realistic hope.
“It is having a devastating effect on sun holidays and the entertainment scene in general which is just catastrophic right now.
“I’m involved with the management of Michael English. We can’t plan or do anything. We had the musical, Who Dares to Dream, ready to go in Castlebar at the end of March and had to shelve it. We are hoping that we can go back into rehearsals after Christmas and, hopefully, it will make it to the stage in March or April.”
The bottom line for Paul is that his clientele will feel at ease to return to his regular shows. “It has to be safe for my clients to go to Spain and Portugal and feel comfortable. There is no point going on a holiday and not feeling comfortable. Everything has to be 100% before we attempt to travel.
“I am just hoping that everything will be right for my June trips to Spain in 2021. It is hard to see any way to get around the current situation in the short term. Mike Denver is headlining my first week in June 2021 and Michael English is the headline act for the second week. We have a big line-up of regular acts for both weeks. Like everyone else, we are so looking forward to getting back to normal again.”
For further information, check out
www.paulclaffeytours.com.
Read more
Country Sound: ‘My heart has always been in traditional country music’
Country Sound: king of the radio road
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