Country music has been an integral part of Radio Kerry’s output since the station came on the air. Dermot Moriarty from Killarney has been a central player in keeping the genre to the forefront of public appeal. A special night to mark the silver jubilee of his show, Sounds Country, will be held in the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney on Saturday 23 May.

Sounds Country airs every Tuesday and Wednesday night between 7pm and 9pm and Thursday night between 8pm and 10pm. It has been a labour of love for Dermot all through the years.

“I reckon I have played around 130,000 songs in the 25 years on air with Radio Kerry. That’s a lot of music down through the years. I have seen a lot of changes on the scene during that time,” reflects Dermot.

“I have always had a special liking for the more traditional sounds of country music. A lot of the modern stuff is bordering on cross-over and light pop.

“I think, and so do my listeners, that there will always be a demand and following for traditional country music.

“The show has had a strong and loyal audience down through the years and we are also lucky to have an outreach into parts of Clare, Limerick, Cork and even up to south Connemara where the signal can be picked up quite well. The advent of the internet also means that people around the world can now tune in to the station anytime they want,” says Dermot.

Almost all Irish country singers have been interviewed by Dermot since he took over the reins of Sounds Country. He has also interviewed a number of the American stars.

“Gene Watson came into the studio and I found him to be a class act. The man is country through and through. Others I interviewed over the phone included George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Moe Bandy and Jim Ed Browne.”

Apart from celebrating 25 years on Radio Kerry, Dermot is also reflecting on more than 40 years on the country circuit. He started out with the Country Rangers in 1971 and fronted the band Southern Pride back in 1975. This band, under the guidance of Mike Fitzgerald from Ballydesmond, Co Cork, is still performing with Helen Scollard as lead singer.

Towards the late 1980s, Dermot was lead singer with The Kerry Cowboys, a band that included the highly acclaimed lead and steel guitar player Basil Hendricks. They were managed by Bob Condon who now takes care of the diaries for Shawn Cuddy and John McNicholl.

Four years ago, he released the Dermot Moriarty Collection, featuring 21 songs from over the years, as well as a duet with his young daughter Sinead on Do What You Do Do Well.

These times, Dermot is not as active on the live circuit as before. However, he still does spots on Billy Morrissey’s overseas tours. He is also about to commence a Friday residency for the summer in the Tower Hotel in Killarney, along with John Nolan and Peter Fleming of the local Best of Friends duo.

Meanwhile, it’s full steam ahead for the big silver jubilee night in the Gleneagle on Saturday 23 May. Dermot will be joined by a host of old friends from the country scene for four hours of country dancing. They include PJ Murrihy, Michael Collins and band, Kevin Prendergast, Patrick O’Sullivan, Michael O’Brien and Philomena McGovern, Eddie Lee and James Kelleher, and Catriona O’Donovan and Michael Buckley.

“A lot of people are looking forward to seeing Kevin Prendergast back in Killarney for the first time in years. Kevin has always been highly requested on my shows.

“The dance gets underway at 9pm and I am delighted to have so many good friends join me on stage for this special night,” says Dermot.