Pat Ely – early trail blazer

Pat Ely, the lead singer with the Smokey Mountain Ramblers, hails from Moyne, Thurles. The Smokeys, as they were known, are generally regarded as the first all-country band on the Irish circuit in the late 1960s and they preceded such other famous combinations as the Cotton Mill Boys and The Hillbillies.

Pat, together with Georgie Kaye, were the frontmen in The Smokeys. Their brand of traditional country with shades of bluegrass saw them blaze an early trail for the wave of country music that was to sweep over Ireland. Around the mid-1970s, Pat fronted The Rocky Tops, another accomplished band. He enjoyed one of his biggest hits in that era with the Johnny McCauley composition, Any Tipperary Town, a song all about his home county. Pat went on to record some fine albums over the years. In 2012, he made a brief return to the scene as The Smokeys reformed for a few nostalgic dates. Pat has resided with his wife Mary and family near Grange, Co Sligo, for many years. He still retains a great love for country music and is highly regarded by aficionados of the traditional sound.

Dancing in Sligo

The annual John Hannon céilí will take place on Friday, 30 January, in Higgins’ Lounge, Culfadda, Gurteen. The Full House Céilí Band will be on stage and dancing is from 10pm to 1am. Ann Sheppard says they are looking forward to the usual big support for this celebration night.

Kenny’s yodel sooths the cows

When it comes to characters in country music, Kenny Archer from Tyrone ticks all the boxes. An engineer by profession, Kenny hails from a farming background near Cookstown. Around 20 years ago he entered a yodeling competition on the Gerry Anderson Show on BBC Radio Ulster and emerged the winner. Always up for the laugh and banter, Kenny’s stories about his champion cow Bubbles has endeared him to audiences across the province. He claims that his yodeling and country songs have a calming and soothing effect on his cattle.