Down in the heart of The Déise, the Bachelors in Trouble are on the move again. Christmas in the Comeraghs would hardly be the same without some of the down-home frolics and banter and southern humour that provides the yeast for another cracking video from these loveable rogues.

On Saturday night, 10 December, Crotty’s of Leamybrien will host the official launch of their latest blockbuster, Saints, Sinners and the Black Ass. They will be joined by guest artists and friends for a night to remember in the gentle lands of Waterford.

No one can accuse them of not having catchy titles for their productions. Last year it was Fast Women and Slow Men and it outsold many of the so-called major stars of the entertainment world.

It may be a long way from the suave studios of Hollywood, but Tony Coffey, Seán Murphy, Willie Walsh and colleagues have cornered a niche of the market and made it all their own over the last three decades.

They have done so in the best tradition of serving their community. In the process, they have raised in the region of €200,000 and played a major role in securing the dialysis unit at Waterford Regional Hospital, which now provides such a cherished service for the people of the southeast.

“We try and do a video (dvd) every year and we have great fun putting it all together. It is like writing a new comedy play each year. The dafter the better as it is all about giving people a good laugh.

“We never stray from our roots. We are rural people, steeped in our way of life. Our stories are simple and funny and people love them,” says Tony Coffey who hails from Kilrossanty.

The Bachelors in Trouble have been a mainstay at the National Ploughing Championships all down the years.

“There are people who seek out our stand at the Ploughing every year. It was the same in Tullamore back in September. They would be wicked disappointed if they did not meet us. These are our kind of people. The Irish Farmers Journal has been coming into our house for as long as I can remember,” says Tony, with a west Waterford accent you could distil and bottle.

Videos were new to the Irish scene back in 1990 when the Bachelors recorded their first one, which was filmed by Billy Kirwan and launched at a gala night in the Park Hotel in Dungarvan.

“Our new movie, that sounds a bit posh, was shot on location in Waterford and it features the regular cast with a couple of new faces this time. We have a sheep shearing scene of olden times and a Parish Mission scene with a retired sergeant in the lead role.

“We filmed a crossroads céilí scene at Laharn Cross near Duhallow in Co Cork and we all had a great time.

“We also feature one of our best-known country singers, Paddy O’Brien, as well as Richie Kavanagh, Pat Daly and Catriona O’Sullivan,” states Tony, a stalwart supporter of the Waterford hurling teams.

Joining The Bachelors in Trouble for their big night in Leamybrien will be Southern Pride, Mary Prendergast, Pat Daly, Paddy Joe Ryan and others. The compere is John O’Shea who hosts the Sunday night country music show on WLR. The show starts at 9pm and proceeds are in support of local church funds.

• Copies of Saints, Sinners and the Black Ass (which has a running time of 90 minutes) are available in record stores countrywide and can also be ordered direct from Tony Coffey on 087-944 8828. He guarantees he will have all orders in the post and delivered in good time for Christmas. CL