When Nan Tom Taimín from Connemara releases a new country album, you know you are in for a special treat. In an age when country music is in danger of losing its soul, Nan goes back to the fountain.

Real country music speaks to the heart and Nan Tom embodies the spirit of such legends as Dolly Parton, Kitty Wells, Rose Maddox and Loretta Lynn.

“I am very emotional about my music,” Nan told me. “Every hurt and every joy is poured into my songs. When I go into the studio. I am in another world.” Hank Williams would have tipped his hat in her honour at such sentiments.

Nan was born and raised in an Irish-speaking home in Ruisín na Maíníach, Carna in Connemara. Her mother had a fondness for the music of Jim Reeves. “We had a record player at home and Jim Reeves and Hank Williams were special favourites. Along with the traditional sean nós songs from our own region, I always loved country music. Brian Coll, Big Tom and Johnny McEvoy became special favourites of mine.”

Nan was 21 when she went to London and the English language became more familiar to her over time. She got a whole new appreciation for different genres of music including jazz, blues and Cajun.

Nan has always had a special love for the piano and it features strongly on this new album, Walking After Midnight, named after the Patsy Cline classic, and produced in Galway by Eugene Killeen.

Country followers will love this collection of songs which includes Blue Moon of Kentucky, Someday You’ll Call My Name, Precious Memories, Amazing Grace, Wildwood Flower, Send Me the Pillow, Banks of Mulroy Bay, Truck Driving Women, I Love You Still, Back to Back and others. It also features a haunting version of the Floyd Cramer number, Last Date, played by Eugene Killeen.

Nan, who has released two previous country albums as well as a series of sean nós albums over the years, is vocal in her praise of Eugene Killeen who arranged and produced the new album.

“Without Eugene, this album would not be here. He is a gifted musician, a gentleman and a scholar. His input on this album has been phenomenal and his piano playing is beautiful.

“Eugene is a master of the piano and I have always loved that sound in country music going back to the albums of Jim Reeves. I am so grateful to him for the time, work and thought he put into making this album so special for me,” says Nan.

Walking After Midnight is what country music is all about and Nan brings it all back home. Comhghairdeas, Nan.

The Connemara launch of Nan Tom’s new album, Walking After Midnight, will be held in Mac’s Bar in Carna on Saturday 9 November, at 9.30pm. Mick Mulhern and his band will provide the music for the guests on the night.