The Town Hall in Newry has become home to Opry an Iúir nights in recent years and the new series is ready to roll again, with TG4 recording the shows over four nights, starting on Sunday 4 September.

This is the fifth season of the series, which enjoys major popularity on TG4. The shows are hosted by Daniel O’Donnell and Lynette Fay and feature many of the well-known names on the country circuit here at home.

Jeanette Nic Lochlainn from Big Mountain Productions says they are once again putting a major push behind the latest venture.

“The Opry an Iúir shows have captured the essence and the style of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and country followers enjoy the format we have used over the last few years.

“We try and bring fresh innovations to the series each season. We continue to feature well-known traditional singers alongside the country stars as in previous seasons and this always goes down a real treat.”

The Opry with the stars show looks set to get the season off to a flying start on Sunday 4 September. Five veterans from the Irish country scene will be on stage. Ray Lynam, Brendan Quinn, Frank McCaffrey, Sandy Kelly and Gloria have all rendered major service to the country scene over the decades.

“This will be a special show and we are so pleased to have all five perform on the same night,” says Jeanette. “There will be a lovely mix of solo performances, chats between Daniel and each of the artists, as well as a few joint performances, too.

“Daniel will also sing a song in Irish and this should be a hugely enjoyable show for patrons in Newry Town Hall and for the many viewers who will watch the series on TG4 later in the year.”

Two concerts will be recorded each night over the following three nights. On Monday 5 September, The High Kings are first up with what should be a rollicking good show. The second show features Michael English and rising star Cliona Hagan from Tyrone, and this should delight audiences.

The Three Amigos, Robert Mizzell, Patrick Feeney and Jimmy Buckley, are the featured act for Tuesday 6 September. Expect some fun, banter and humour along the way, too. Trudi Lalor headlines the other concert on the same night.

The final night for the recording of shows in this series of Opry an Iúir is 7 September, where Derek Ryan will take to the stage. His special guest is Eleanor McEvoy. TR Dallas is the headline act for the other show.

Jeanette Nic Lochlainn says it is full steam ahead as filming draws near.

“There is always that special sense of expectation and buzz in the countdown to the four nights in Newry. The rapport between the artists and the audience is very special, too. This rapport seems to be at the very heart of country music here in Ireland, where people tend to know the artists so well.

“Daniel and Lynette do a great job at putting everyone at ease. A feature of Opry an Iúir is that we have an Irish-speaking guest who teaches the main country star a song in Irish. They perform this together on the night. The Irish-speaking singer performs two solo songs in Irish also, sometimes country, sometimes of another genre.

“Daniel performs a song from his repertoire that he has had translated into Irish especially for the show. The country star and Daniel perform a duet together. The format goes down a treat with audiences and viewers,” reflects Jeanette.

“Opry also presents an exciting opportunity for Irish-speaking music fans to see themselves on the small screen. The Opry crew are out to recruit each stars’ biggest fan, who will get to meet their hero on the day of the gig in a special superfan feature.”

Anyone interested in participating should contact Sara on sara@bigmountainproductions.com or 048-3083 4046.

  • • Opry an Iúir will be coming to your screens via TG4 later in the year. Tickets for the September gigs in Newry Town Hall are £17.50 sterling each. Each night encompasses two concerts, and each tickets admits the holder to both concerts on the night. These can be booked by contacting Michael Magill Entertainments on 048 41773618/028 41773618 or 00447740704762, or Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry, on 028 30213180/048 30213180.