Irish Country Sound, in association with The Phil Mack Country Show (Sky 191) and the Armagh City Hotel, will host their first Northern Ireland Entertainment Awards show on 10 November. Over 20 acts will receive awards and several of the confirmed artists were announced in Country Sound last week. Tickets will be available from the Irish Farmers Journal stand at the Ploughing and also from the hotel on 048-3751-8888 or prefix 028 from the North.

Derek Ryan is currently undertaking his first tour of Australia. The Carlow man is doing five shows and is reaching out to the young Irish contingent currently living in many of the big cities in Australia. His first date back home will be on Friday, 26 September, in the Glencarn Hotel in Castleblayney.

Pat Rock from Ballymahon is a man with a wonderful knowledge and love for the days of the old pirate radios. This is the 50th anniversary of the launch of Radio Caroline by Dublin native Ronan O’Reilly. Pat has researched and compiled a lovely documentary featuring the history of one of the best known and most influential off-shore pirates of them all.

Faith Hope and Love is the new album from PJ Keenan. The Cavan man was joined by several artists for the launch in the Glencarn Hotel in Castleblayney.

Sean Wilson and Tony Mac have busy times ahead with two sold-out weekends in the Risboro Hotel in Llandudno at the end of October and November.

Matt Keane from Galway is putting the finishing touches to a new album in Pat Coyne’s Studios in Cong. Also putting down some tracks in the same studio is Catriona Canavan from Connemara who specialises in both country and sean nós music.