Twenty years down the road and the Michael Collins Band are still flying high. The Limerick trio are celebrating two decades on the circuit and they are packing out venues all over the south. Little wonder that Michael’s recent album is called Flying High.

Six major shows are planned around the country next week when Michael and the lads will showcase their talent and celebrate their 20th anniversary in the company of friends and dancers.

Michael is very excited about the upcoming ventures. “The week-long tour is generating huge interest. We started back in 1993 when I was joined by John Guiney and John O’Gorman. It is the very same trio ever since. Nowadays, there are changes every few months in bands. But the people know us all so well at this stage.

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“We start in The Hazel Tree in Mallow on next Monday, 26 August, and our guests are PJ Murrihy, Big Maggie, Donie Walsh and Trudi Lalor. That should be a great night as we always do well in that venue. We are taking Tuesday night off and then heading up to the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris on Wednesday (28 August) where our guests are TR Dallas and Donie Walsh.

“We are off to the Well in Moate that Thursday where we will be joined by John Hogan. We have another gala night in The Hazel Hotel in Monasterevin on Friday, 30 August, with special guests PJ Murrihy, Trudi Lalor and John Hogan.

“We are back south in the Parkway in Dunmanway, Co Cork, on Saturday, 31 August, and our guests that night are Big Maggie, Mary and Danny O’Leary and Trudi Lalor. The Sunday night sees us in OB’s in Kilross, Co Tipperary, and the guests are John Hogan and Big Maggie. Admission to all the shows is €10 and we are expecting big crowds.”

From Tournafulla just outside Newcastle West, Michael has carefully nurtured the band to the point where they are one of the most requested and recognisable outfits, especially on the Munster circuit.

“We are a middle of the road band playing country to rock ’n roll and a few other things thrown into the mix. You get to read your audiences fairly quick. We change our style for the social dancing scene and the wedding circuit. You have to be good at working an audience. It comes with experience I suppose. At this stage, the lads and myself know the scene inside out.

“The south has been so good to us all the years and now we are doing some dates in the midlands and the west. It is nice to get around and meet new audiences. We love those challenges.”

Flying High is their most recent album, following up on the previous six released by the band. A new single, The Way That You Are, is out this week and was produced by Peter Maher in his studios in Nenagh.

“Despite the downturn, the scene has remained very healthy for us. If they like the band, they’ll keep coming out to support you. We have been very lucky in that regard so we must be doing something right!

“Next week is going to be very special and we are looking forward to giving all the patrons an occasion to cherish at our shows. Lovely hurling!” quips the Limerick man.