A brand new summer cabaret show has made its debut in the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris. Hosted by Annette Griffin and John Staunton, the show runs through on Wednesday nights until 2 September. Showtime each night is 9pm.
A brand new summer cabaret show has made its debut in the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris.
Hosted by Annette Griffin and John Staunton, the show runs through on Wednesday nights until 2 September. Showtime each night is 9pm.
The variety cabaret show has a resident line-up that includes Brendan Shine (celebrating his golden jubilee on the music circuit), Patrick Feeney, Sean Costello from Ballinrobe, comedian Frank Forde from Castlebar, as well as the Turley Duggan Irish Dancers.
“We have put a really special show together featuring a variety of musical styles that we think will have widespread appeal,” says Annette Griffin, the well-known singer and harpist who has performed for several years at Ashford Castle, Co Mayo.
“John (Staunton) and I look forward to hosting the shows each night and there will be plenty of great music as well as comedy, dancing and chat. This is a show we are proud of and we are confident it will prove highly popular during the summer months.”
John Staunton, the long-time lead guitarist with the Daniel O’Donnell band and also accomplished country singer, is delighted with the venture.
“This show is geared towards providing an all-round evening of quality entertainment. We feel we have the perfect mix for such a show.”
• For more information and Summer Cabaret bookings, please contact the hotel reception on 094-9378000 or visit www.mcwilliamparkhotel.ie for further details. CL
Ballymore
The Ballymore Country Music Festival, organised by Ballymore GAA Club, is back this August. Ballymore hosted major festivals back in the late 1970s and was among the pioneers of big outdoor events. They revived it again in recent years. The line-up this year includes Derek Ryan, Robert Mizzell, Brendan Shine, Jimmy Buckley, Mike Denver, Johnny Brady, Lisa McHugh and The Sheerins. Admission is €25 and under 14s go free. See www.ballymoregaa.ie
Country Sundays
The Country Sundays are back for the summer at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney. They feature four hours of dancing from 9pm to 1am, with double acts each night. Derek Ryan and his band headline on 12 July with Adrian Ryan as support act. Gerry Guthrie and band top the bill on 19 July with the Michael Collins band also on stage. Tickets are available at the door and there are many more great acts to look forward to.
A fine ambassador
Val Doonican, who died last week at the age of 88, commanded a special place in the hearts of a generation of Irish people.
A native of Waterford, Val spent the vast bulk of his life in England where he fronted The Val Doonican Show with the BBC for 21 years. At its height, it attracted a phenomenal audience of around 19 million.
Val’s biggest hit in Ireland was Walk Tall, a song that is still played on various shows to this day. It was a catchy, uptempo number that almost everyone felt they could sing along to and it became Val’s calling card song.
The Special Years and Elusive Butterfly were his other biggest chart hits here in Ireland.
His albums sold in vast numbers in the UK during his years hosting the BBC show.
Four years ago, Val was honoured with the Freedom of Waterford, an accolade that he treasured in a special way.
He retained his easy going nature throughout his long life and made everyone feel at ease in his company.
Val belonged to the old school and commanded a respect that was both earned and deserved. He was, at all times, a fine ambassador for Ireland in the UK.
Little White Lies down Offaly way
Little White Lies, a young Offaly-based duo, were among the guests at the Moneygall Country Fest last weekend.
Ellen Lynch (21) from Kilcormac and Steve Hogan (24) from Birr, comprise one of Ireland’s most recent country/pop, country/rock acts. An opening slot on some of Brendan Grace’s concert shows provided a readymade platform for Little White Lies to showcase their talent.
They have secured guest spots on several major shows in the past few months and have also recorded a slot for a TG4 programme.
Ellen and Steve are currently working on some original numbers.
A song composed by writer and poet Anthony Sullivan from Lusmagh and Frank Millis, singer-songwriter from Offaly, called Even Angels, looks set to become their debut single.
Meanwhile, keep an ear and an eye out for Little White Lies as they set forth on their great musical odyssey.
John’s night in Cootehill
The annual John McIntyre-organised night in support of Drumlin House Training Centre and St Christopher’s Hospice has been arranged for 10 September. The venue is once again the Errigal Hotel in Cootehill. John, who fronts his own popular group on the circuit, has again put together a fine array of talent for an event. Thousands have been raised for these causes in recent years. The headline acts will be Michael English and his band and Margo O’Donnell.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: