Mick Flavin celebrating 30 years of music

Longford’s Mick Flavin recorded his first album back in 1986. This weekend sees the ninth annual Mick Flavin and Friends get-together and the venue is the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris, Co Mayo.

The venture gets under way on Friday night, 22 April, with Mick and his band doing the opening show from 10pm to midnight and John McNicholl and his band on stage until 2am. Eamonn McCann and band open the show on Saturday night with Mick and the lads on stage at midnight. They are also playing the afternoon gig at 3pm on Sunday.

“The annual weekend attracts a lot of regular supporters who join us year after year,” says Mick. “In many ways it is truly a reunion of friends who come from all over to share in the celebrations. It is a relaxing weekend and a great chance to meet up and share our love for the music with those who have been so loyal to us over the years.

“This time, we are delighted to welcome John McNicholl and Eamonn McCann and their bands and we know they will provide top-class shows for all dancers who join us in Claremorris.”

Three decades have flown by since Mick’s debut on the scene.

“It was back in the time of the pirate radio stations. They were at the very heart of reviving the country music scene. If it were not for those stations, many of us would never have had a chance. The national stations had little or no interest in our scene at the time.

“There were quite a few of us who were coming on the scene at that time, like Daniel O’Donnell, Paddy O’Brien, John Hogan and others. The pirate stations were a great help to us all as most of them were heavily involved in playing country music.

“They also were at the heart of bringing about the introduction of the legalised radio stations, which are now such an integral part of life in every county. The country music scene was the prime beneficiary of those stations,” reflects Mick.

Songs like Maria Is Heading Out To California, The Old School Yard, and Wild Flowers remain firm favourites on all of Mick’s shows.

“There are a few songs that are always requested and remain as popular now as when I recorded them,” says Mick.

Another venture on the horizon for Mick is his third annual Lowlands to The Highlands of Scotland trip, which takes place from 2-6 June.

“We will be spending four nights in Scotland and will be organising coach hire and ferry from Ireland to Scotland for the event. Whartons Travel in Crossdoney, Cavan, are coordinating the trip and can be contacted at 049-4337000. We have a special affinity with Scottish audiences and the Irish and Scottish folk blend very well when it comes to country music.”

Tipperary station celebrates silver jubilee

NEWS

Michael Commins

micommins@eircom.net

A gala concert to celebrate the silver jubilee of Tipp FM will be held in The Dome in Thurles on Wednesday 27 April. The Dome is located at the Semple Stadium and can facilitate 1,000 patrons and a sellout show is on the cards.

The station has become a central player in the community life of the Premier County and provides a cherished service for the region and for Tipperary exiles around the world.

The big concert brings together one of the largest lineup of acts seen in Tipperary for many years and also features a variety of music genres which should appeal to a wide audience.

The confirmed lineup includes Mike Denver, The High Kings, Pat Shortt, The Furey Brothers, Declan Nerney, Mick Flavin, Trudi Lalor, Dominic Kirwan, Johnny Brady, Gina and the Champions, Paddy O Brien, Marc Roberts, Sandy Kelly, TR Dallas, Des Willoughby, Crystal Swing, Lee Matthews, Cliona Hagan, Aidan Quinn, and many more will be performing on the night.

Tickets are priced at €25 and are available from various outlets around Tipperary as well as from Lár na Páirce GAA shop in Thurles (0504-422702) and the various Tipp FM offices in Co Tipperary. A night to remember awaits all patrons at this big celebration in Thurles.

Country & comedy in Galway

The Clayton Hotel in Galway will host a night of country and comedy on Thursday 28 April. The show will feature Gloria whose recording of One Day at a Time established its own record for the longest ever run of a song in the Irish charts.

Cork family band Crystal Swing are also on the bill, as are Cavan singer Eamonn Jackson and Cliona Hagan from Tyrone. Providing a good spread of comedy will be Mayo’s own Frank Forde, who is a regular panellist on Joe Duffy’s Funny Fridays Liveline shows on RTÉ Radio One.

Tickets are €25 and are available from the hotel on 091-721900.

Dunderry goes country

The annual Dunderry Fair Day takes place on Sunday 8 May 2016. The Meath village prides itself on hosting a popular and friendly event that goes from strength to strength each year. The proceeds from the day are shared among various local causes.

Dunderry Fair has been greatly boosted in recent years by a strong country music influence and that pattern will continue on 8 May when Jimmy Buckley, Matt Leavy, Ray Murtagh, Mary O’Connor and Eddie Quinn will all feature on stage throughout the afternoon. The popular Glenside Céilí Band will also entertain the folks.

“It is the biggest day of the year in Dunderry,” says Kieran O’Shea. “The whole community gets behind the fair day. It is a special occasion for families and friends and the fair now attracts a lot of visitors, which is great for Dunderry as well.”

Five decades of Ireland Eurovision

What’s Another Year, a book taking an in-depth look at Ireland’s first five decades of Eurovision, and compiled and published by Mick Lynch, is about to go on the market. It is a must for all devoted followers of the Eurovision Song Contest and takes us right back to the first night that Butch Moore of the Capitol Showband represented Ireland in Naples with Walking The Streets in the Rain.

The launch takes place in Hodges Figgis Book Store in Dawson St, Dublin, on Thursday 28 April between 6 and 8pm.

The Two Mikes deliver in Killarney

Bless The Broken Road is the title of the new album from The Two Mikes and Family Ties from Kerry. It was launched at a big night in the Drumhall Hotel in Killarney recently and such was the crowd that turned up for the occasion that close on 200 people were unable to gain admission.

The 20-track album was recorded in the Jenny Studios in Ballyheigue in Co Kerry and was produced by Eddie Lee.

The band comprises Mike and Paudie Coffey from Beaufort and Mike and Dermot O’Meara from Firies. They are much in demand for weddings and other shows, especially in the Kerry and Cork areas.

“We extend a deep sense of gratitude to Eddie Lee and Frances for making the recording of this album so enjoyable. We had a wonderful time in the studio. Thanks to the huge crowd who came along to our launch in Killarney. We were overwhelmed by the response to the occasion,” says the Two Mikes.