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Tyrone country singer Cliona Hagan is all set to dance her way into homes all over Ireland. The country music singer will feature on this year’s Dancing with the Stars, which got underway on RTÉ last Sunday evening.
This represents another break for the young artist from up north who made her debut three years ago with We’re All Going to Die Someday. She quickly made a big impact on the country scene and has garnered numerous accolades in the last three years. In 2016, she was the recipient of the inaugural RTÉ/ICMA award for best newcomer.
Cliona (29), who was a guest performer at most of the big outdoor country festivals last summer, brings a wealth of experience to the dance floor and is totally at ease in front of the cameras. She is also booked for several major shows in 2019.
Before coming to the country scene she qualified from Edinburgh University. She also works as a freelance music teacher, specialising in the piano, guitar and fiddle.
Cliona counts Emmylou Harris and Martina McBride among her favourite singers on the American country circuit. Her most recent release is a cover of the Leonard Cohan song, Hallelujah.
“I’m excited and perhaps a little nervous, but I’m feeling great and can’t wait to get into the swing of things. It is a huge honour to be chosen as part of this top-rate show and I’m going out to do my best to be there to the end. One owes it to oneself to try your best and see what happens along the way.”
Dancing with the Stars runs for 11 more weeks and concludes on 24 March when the winners will be announced and the curtains will come down on the 2019 series.
Mick Flavin releases new DVD
Rosette Records has just released country star Mick Flavin’s first DVD in 16 years. The two-disc set, featuring the DVD and the CD soundtrack, is entitled 30 Years Travellin’ to Flavin.
“Some of the songs were recorded at a concert I did in the Back Stage Theatre in Longford, while the rest are on location,” says Mick. “A lot of time and work goes into a project like this and I would like to say well done to Mick Bracken and his team who put it all together.”
Back Home to Mayo was shot in Newport, while Who Will Pray For Me was filmed at Ardagh Church in his home county of Longford. Never Too Old sees Mick visit a family near Stradbally in Laois while the Old Log Cabin was shot near Mullingar. There is also a duet with Mary Duff on the George Jones and Lacy J Dalton song, Size Seven Round, which was filmed in Offaly.
Mick is now doing a combination of dances and guest spots at concerts and is looking forward to meeting friends and supporters at the various gigs throughout 2019.
Trilogy from Robert Mizzell
Fans of Robert Mizzell will be pleased to know that three of his albums have just been made available in a new three-CD compilation set, Trilogy.
Dolphin Music Group is behind the special promotion, which features three of his popular albums from recent years, Redneck Man, Thanks a Lot and Waltzing With Me. They contain many of his most popular songs and also include some duets with Philomena Begley, Colin Raye, Lorraine McDonald and Lisa McHugh.
The man from Louisiana has been to the forefront of the country scene in Ireland since moving here in the 1990s. He has also led a number of Irish tour groups to the southern states of America, including Louisiana and Tennessee.
Robert, one of the Three Amigos concert group, is currently on an annual tour with Jimmy Buckley and Patrick Feeney, playing dates all over Ireland.
John dies in Tyrone
John O’Neill from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, a member of the renowned Homesteaders Country Band, has died following an illness. He was in his mid-70s.
The Homesteaders and Gene Stuart enjoyed huge popularity throughout Ireland and were acclaimed as one of the best country dancing bands of their era. John played piano and accordion and he also had an enduring fondness for traditional Irish music.
He is survived by his wife Teresa and their family, Clare, Kieran, Caroline, Joanne and Shauna. Dear brother of Margaret and Lena and the late Josephine and Betsy.
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