Kevin’s golden jubilee night

in Irishtown

Kevin Prendergast is celebrating 50 years on the showbiz circuit. The Mayo man will be the special guest at a night in his honour in Bourke’s lounge in Irishtown next Tuesday night, 16 May.

This show will be recorded for a new series on Sky 212 and Freesat 161, which will be broadcast every Thursday night from 11 May at 7pm. It will be hosted by Castlebar-based Henry McGlade and Martin Logan, who resides in Manchester.

It was back in the 1960s that Kevin Prendergast got his first big break when he did a guest sport on the RTÉ programme, Céili House. Kevin emigrated to Manchester where he lived for close on four decades before returning to his home county over a decade ago.

Leitrim native Paschal Mooney, who was a major name on RTÉ Radio, took Kevin under his wing and signed him up to the Fáilte Record label during the mid-1980s. The Mayo man recorded a number of top-selling albums and Kevin was much in demand for guest spots all over Ireland and the UK.

Joining Kevin on Tuesday night are Kay and The Country Stars, Frank McCaffrey, Jason Travers, Sean Brennan, Stuart Moyles, Carmel Mc Loughlin, Gerry Carney, Noreen Bourke, David Godfrey, Mick Mulhern, John Kelly, and the ever-popular Mulloy Brothers from Mulranny.

Doors open at 8 30pm with dancing from 9 30pm. Admission is just €10.

Noel’s big night in Castlepollard

Noel Briody is putting the final touches to his album launch night in Hotel Castlepollard on Thursday 25 May. The singer from Moylagh, Oldcastle, Co Meath, was a contestant in the Glór Tire series in 2016.

Noel, who performs around the general midlands and northeast region, has been part of Declan Nerney’s Hooley in the Sun for many years. The social dancing circuit has seen him do dates in other parts of the country as well.

“I really enjoy the social dancing because I play live and don’t use any backing tracks so I can change tempos for dancers in different venues.

“Unfortunately, backing tracks are doing away with a lot of our very talented musicians but that’s not the way for me,” says Noel.

Joining him for the launch of his album, So Much Music and So Little Time, in Castlepollard will be Mick Flavin, Matt Leavy, Eddie Quinn and others. The compere for the show is Eddie Caffrey form LMFM. Dancing is from 9pm to 12.30am and admission is €15.

Paddy’s kind of country

Paddy O’Brien takes his show, My Kind of Country, to the Riverside Park Hotel, Macroom, Co Cork, on 25 May. Joining Paddy will be Trudi Lalor, Shaun Loughrey and Keelan Arbuckle. The Waterford man is celebrating 30 years on the country circuit. He has recorded 32 albums, all of which are available on CD. Some of his most popular songs include The Land Where We Never Grow Old and Going to California. Tickets can be booked by calling 087-166 3395 or the hotel reception.

Geraldine on song

The talent competition at the recent Enjoy Travel Music Holidays in Spain is always an enjoyable occasion and among the highlights of the 10-day festival.

The top prize at the event held in The Amaragua Hotel in Torremolinos went to Geraldine Boland from Kilteel, Naas, who proved a very popular winner. Well done, Ger.

Newport hosts Irish

diaspora night

The Cherishing the Irish Diaspora group will host a fundraising night in Hotel Newport on Friday 19 May. The proceeds from the venture are in support of the annual Mayo Holiday in September for homeless and vulnerable Irish emigrants from the UK.

The Newport show will feature performances by Mick Mackey (Clonmel), Joe Deery (Donegal), Kevin Prendergast, Tomás Langan and the Cuilmore Set Dancers, all from Mayo. The show starts at 9pm and admission is €10. All support will be most welcome for this worthy cause.