Country legends bound for Portumna

Date Published: {J}

Ireland’s greatest country stars will converge on Portumna on the Easter Bank Holiday, celebrating over 50 years entertaining country music lovers all over the world and singing hundreds of their hit records.

Reeling back the years at the Shannon Oaks Hotel will be Brian Coll, who is 51 years on the road, Philomena Begley, looking forward to 2012 when she reaches her target of being the best female country singer in Ireland for 50 years, Gene Stuart, Ray Lynam, Brendan Quinn, John Glenn Frank McCaffrey, Larry Cunningham, Brendan Shine, TR Dallas, Patrice, Frankie McBride, and Gloria, who brought the house down on her recent appearance on the Late Late Show, singing her record-breaking hit One Day At A Time.

Stars of yesteryear, who have passed to their eternal reward, have not been forgotten. Maisie McDaniels, Ireland’s first country music TV star, will be remembered in a tribute show by her daughter, Lisa Stanley and Shaun Loughrey will roll back the years with a tribute to his late great dad, Johnny Loughrey.

Younger country audiences will be well catered for in the form of Ireland’s current top 2, Mike Denver and Jimmy Buckley.

‘Country Legends … A Celebration’ kicks off on Holy Thursday, April 21, and continues on Good Friday (doors open 12 midnight), Easter Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets available at Ticketmaster outlets nationwide www.ticketmaster.ie tel 0818 719 300 and at doors nightly, subject to availability.