The longest day of the year will soon be giving us a friendly farewell wave. But the celebrations of summer still lies ahead, the music festivals, country, folk, pop and all that, combine to whet our appetites. And, of course, thank God for the annual GAA hurling and football championships and the huge excitement weekend after weekend up until the end of September.

Down Killarney way, the annual Country in the Kingdom Dancing Festival has carved out its own niche as a rallying venue in late June. And this year is no different. Billy Morrissey has plans in place to host another weekend of great country music and dancing in the famous Gleneagle Hotel and it is all happening on 26-28 June at Kerry’s best-known venue.

Dancers have been flocking to this summer festival since its inception some years ago and it now enjoys a regular and loyal fanbase, with many coming back time after time as the summer tourist surge brings a whole new vitality to the region.

The festival draws people from all over Ireland as well as many visitors from England and Scotland, who combine the dancing festival with enjoying the many iconic sights of the Kerry region.

Local men Eddie Lee and James Kelleher will open the weekend festivities on Friday 26 June, when they will entertain patrons from 9pm to 11pm.

Eddie has a strong regional following in the Munster area and has recorded some top class albums over the years. He was also the first to arrange and record Blue Kilkenny Eyes, a song that has been covered by various artists in the last four years. Eddie and James are special favourites with the dancers.

It will certainly be a case of Friday At The Dance and High Five for Long Island when Michael English and his band hit the stage at 11pm. The Kildare man is very much looking forward to taking his show back to the Gleneagle and this will certainly help bring the curtains down on what should be a great opening night in Killarney.

John Hogan and his band get the show on the road on Saturday night at 9pm. The Offaly man is enjoying a major resurgence and recently had a great night in The Well in Moate for the launch of his album, Back To Basics. Paddy O’Brien and band, ahead of his own album launch in Mallow on 6 July, will be joined by Trudi Lalor as part of a double show to take the dancers through until 1.30am.

The Sunday afternoon dance from 3pm to 5.30pm will feature Michael Collins and his band from Limerick. TR Dallas and Joe King, just back from a popular tour of venues along the East Coast of the USA, open the Sunday night dancing, while Robert Mizzell and his excellent band, The Country Kings, will bring the Country in the Kingdom Festival for June to an exciting end.

“Interest in the event is surpassing all expectations and we are looking forward to another wonderful few days in The Gleneagle in Killarney,” says Billy Morrissey.

“We have a great combination of artists who always find favour with our dancers.”

Tickets for all these dances are available at the door of the ballroom at the Gleneagle Hotel each night.

A special value weekend pass, which covers all dances throughout the weekend, can be purchased on Friday night 26 June at the ballroom door for only €50 – which represents great value for the many fans who will be dancing at the Country in the Kingdom Festival. This special pass can also be purchased in advance from The Gleneagle Hotel reception on 064-667-1500.

• Billy Morrissey Country Music Holidays are also taking bookings for Portugal 2015, which will be held in the Dom Pedro Golf Hotel, Vilamoura, The Algarve, on 2-27 September. Artists taking part this year are Paddy O’Brien, John Hogan, Crystal Swing, Susan McCann, Trudi Lalor, Johnny Carroll, Thomas Maguire and Fhiona Ennis, Gary Gamble, Michael Collins, Aiden Quinn, Tom Healy, Nicky Kealy, Shay O’Callaghan and The Ryan Turner Band. Call 062-63773 or visit www.countrymusicholidays.com for all the details.