North to Alaska was all the rage when Johnny Horton took it to the top of the US charts. These days it’s way up north to Clonmany, as the small Inishowen town strikes gold again through its annual Country Music Festival.

Clonmany has a population of around 500 people, but the country fest attracts thousands to this corner on the Atlantic coast of Donegal.

The festival, which started out as a local event, has surged in popularity in recent years and now attracts supporters from all over the country as well as parts of the UK.

For eight days and nights, country music rocks in Clonmany.

The festival runs from Sunday 2 August until Sunday 9 August and boasts an array of major names from the circuit. It opens on Sunday afternoon at 4pm with Lisa McHugh and band, while Lee Matthews and band play the night session which starts at 9.30pm.

The headline acts for the week are: Richie Remo and Jim Devine (Monday), Mike Denver (Tuesday), Nathan Carter (Wednesday), Derek Ryan (Thursday), Michael English (Friday), Gerry Guthrie and Robert Mizzell (Saturday), the Davitt Country Band (Sunday afternoon, 9 August) and Jimmy Buckley and band will bring the festival to a close later that night.

Among those providing support to the main acts during the week are McCarron, Porter and David James, Ally Harron and Marian Curry, and Trevor Loughrey.

Hugo Boyce, who was among the original co-founders of the Clonmany Festival 48 years ago, is still the man at the helm. He has made an amazing contribution to the promotion of Clonmany over the decades.

“You could say Clonmany has now become the Klondike of country music. This is the most northerly country festival on the island of Ireland. It is all held on the street and the subscription is just €5. Children go free.

“We started to feature the big bands around 20 years ago and it has gone very well since then. We are just 13 miles from Malin Head and there are four beaches beside us here in the Clonmany area. We also have one of the biggest agricultural shows in Donegal and that takes place during the festival on Tuesday 4 August.

“We extend a warm welcome to all who make their way north to our small town during festival week. People come back year after year they enjoy it so much,” says Hugo.

John McNicholl plays Caherconlish

East Limerick is an area with a rich tradition of dancing, dating back to the halcyon days of the famous Oyster Ballroom in Dromkeen, one of the biggest venues in the country during the showband boom.

Legendary American country singer Jim Reeves opened his Irish tour of 1993 in Dromkeen.

That tradition is being revived at the Millennium Centre in Caherconlish, which boasts a superb dance floor, lighting system and full bar and catering facilities.

John Hogan and Muriel O’Connor with Fran Curry enjoyed some great gigs there lately.

The organisers are delighted to welcome John McNicholl and his band on Saturday night 1 August, for what should be a great night of holiday weekend dancing at the venue.

Caherconlish is about 15 minutes from Limerick City and even less from the N7 motorway.

Down The Final Furlong

It is music all the way at The Final Furlong bar in Ballybrittas, Co Laois, over the bank holiday weekend. Stephen Smyth, the acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and singer from Co Down, will perform at the venue on Saturday night, along with Cavan-based country singer Ray Montana.

Ray has been making quite a name for himself on the regional circuit since the release of his seven-track CD. He has featured on the Phil Mack Show on Sky 191 and others in recent months. Patrons are in for a fine show when Ray and Stephen entertain on the night.

Local trad band, The Volunteers, are playing the venue on Sunday night and they will be joined by Kildare country singer Bernie Heaney for what should be another memorable occasion in The Final Furlong.

Health scare for Anthony

Fermanagh country singer Anthony McBrien is recuperating after a major health scare.

The hard-working entertainer, and former Glór Tire finalist, spent eight days at the intensive care unit of the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, while medical staff stabilised his kidney condition.

“I was very fortunate to have such great people take care of me,” Anthony told Country Sound at the weekend.

“My reading was extremely high and I was lucky to make it through.

“I am humbled by all the good wishes from so many people that have arrived my way in the past two weeks. It has been truly amazing and these have all played a major role in raising my spirits.”

Anthony has wisely taken a decision to cut back on his hectic schedule to facilitate his recovery.

“Health is everything,” says Anthony.

“It is so true that we take it for granted when all is going well. I am now taking two months away from the music scene and, hopefully, at that stage, I will be recovered and ready to return to the stages again.”