Daniel lends support to vinyl rally

Music aficionados have been falling in love with vinyl all over again in the last few years. Daniel O’Donnell is lending his support to the vinyl comeback with the release of a 16-track LP entitled Halfway to Paradise.

The record is aimed at recapturing the popularity and fun of Daniel’s rock‘n’roll recordings and among the songs featured on the vinyl release are such favourites as Singing the Blues, Oh Boy, Dream Lover, Good Luck Charm, Daydream Believer, Love Letters in the Sand, That’ll Be The Day, Rhythm of the Rain and It Doesn’t Matter Anymore.

A three-pack CD collection, comprising of 60 songs, and also named Halfway to Paradise, is being released on 18 October and it includes a “live in concert” section featuring several tracks previously unreleased on CD.

Daniel has also announced four shows for the INEC in Killarney from the 24 to 27 September 2020 and two shows for the Convention Centre in Dublin on 12 and 13 December 2020 (Saturday and Sunday).

Cahir host Tipp Mid-West concert

Tipp Mid-West Radio will host a major country concert in Cahir House Hotel on Tuesday 22 October at 8pm. This fundraising concert features Louise Morrissey, Gerry Guthrie, Dave Lawlor, Ciarán Rosney, Martin Cuffe, Dermot Lyons, Marty Daniels, Stephen Stokes, The Bachelors in Trouble and the Off The Kuff Band from Donegal.

Tickets are €25 and are available from Tipp Mid-West Radio studios, Danny Ryan’s Music Shop, Tipperary Town and Noel Fahy’s Footwear, Cashel.

Programme controller David Condon tells us many of their listeners are also loyal readers of The Irish Farmers Journal every week.

All proceeds from the event will go towards the ongoing funding of Tipp Mid-West Radio.

Pamela’s launch in Ballina

Pamela Gilmartin will launch her debut album, Truckin’ Country Queen, at a gala night in the Great National Hotel in Ballina on Thursday 24 October.

The album will include two of her popular YouTube songs, Old Time Fiddle and The Woman Behind the Man Behind the Wheel as well as Raglan Road, Truck Drivin’ Woman and many more.

The Bonniconlon singer is very much looking forward to her big night where she will be joined by guest performers Aidan Clerkin, Philip Magee, Mick Mulhern, Michael S Togher, Jason and Trevor Myles, Conor O’Donnell and Carmel McLoughlin.

Larry Carolan dies in Meath

Another link with the showband era was broken last week, with the passing of Larry Carolan from Kells in Co Meath.

Larry was a member of the popular Premier Aces Showband, who were based in Roscommon back in the mid- to late-1960s and who enjoyed immense popularity in the western region, as well as on the Irish dancehall circuit in England.

The band was fronted by Houston Wells and the other members were Sonny Ward, Andy and Paddy Malone, Larry Carolan, Johnny Carroll, Jimmy O’Neill, and Billy Ryan.

Patsy’s last farewell

Patsy Haugh, who died recently in Castlerea, was a member of The Riviera Showband back in that era.

The renowned trumpet player was a cousin of Galway-based Johnny Carroll who has recorded a number of albums over the years. Patsy’s sons, John and Bill, continue the music tradition in the Haugh family.