Matt Keane is back in the Cong studio recording a new album under the guidance of Pat Coyne. Matt was the recipient of the Country Folk Award at the Country Sound concert in Athlone, in March. His sister is Dolores Keane, who was the subject of a major documentary on RTÉ 1.

Michael English and his band roll into Tipperary town next Sunday night, 18 May, where they are the top attraction at the regular dance in The Times Hotel. Michael has shows booked all over the country and overseas. Gerry Guthrie and band appear in the Times on Sunday night week.

One of the privileges conferred upon those who receive the Freedom of a town or city is the right to graze sheep on commonage areas. Gay Byrne and Bono have this right in Dublin, so we await to see if Big Tom or Paddy Cole will avail of it in Castleblayney.

It was good to see a country-flavoured song feature so strongly in the Eurovision Song Contest last weekend. Calm After The Storm was performed by The Common Linnets and saw the Netherlands finish a strong second.

Richie Remo is creating quite a stir in the northern region. His latest single, Loving Life, is taken from his album Don’t Look Back. A video to accompany the new song was filmed in the Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena, for broadcast on Sky 191 and YouTube.

Last Sunday, the happiest country music singer in Ireland was Shaun Loughrey, who cheered on his favourite team Manchester City. “It would cap a great year now if Mayo or Tyrone were to win the Sam Maguire Cup,” says Shaun, lending support to the home counties of his late parents Mary and Johnny.