The venue is host to the inaugural North Cork Country Festival and the organisers are going all out to make this a truly memorable day. Mallow lays claim to being at the crossroads of Munster and it certainly commands an ideal central location. Country aficionados from Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Tipperary, Waterford and further afield are expected to converge on Mallow in big numbers this Sunday.

Nathan Carter is the headline act. He has seen his star surge in the last three years and the Liverpool-born singer now commands top-shelf status on the Irish circuit.

Nathan got his first major break when Gerry Flynn and Dermot Hegarty, of the Enjoy Travel Company, brought him out to do a guest spot on their show in Ibiza when he was just 16. A number of sizeable hit songs introduced him to Irish audiences, but it was Wagon Wheel that catapulted him to top of the league. The song, a huge hit for the Old Crow Medicine Show in America, caught on among the University fraternity here in Ireland and Nathan was first to move into that territory and claim it for his own. The rest is history.

Declan Nerney is one of the true warriors of the scene here in Ireland, having served his apprenticeship in the best of company as a member of Brian Coll’s band, The Buckaroos, and Gene Stuart’s superb country outfit, The Homesteaders. The Longford man launched his own band in 1989 and has never looked back since.

Limerick native Jimmy Buckley came to prominence in the 1990s and went on to become one of the top country attractions in Ireland. Jimmy is also a member of The Three Amigos, which features Robert Mizzell and Patrick Feeney. Henry McMahon, bandleader with Big Tom and The Mainliners, has played a major role in Jimmy’s career and penned some of his most popular songs, including Your Wedding Way.

Louise Morrissey will make the short journey over from nearby Tipperary to perform for the folks in Mallow. Louise began her career with The Morrisseys Folk Group, but made the switch to mainstream country in the late 1980s and that has been her forte ever since. She has recorded some excellent material over the last two decades.

Lisa McHugh completes the lineup. The Glasgow-born lady has made a major impression on the country scene since she relocated to Ireland a few years ago and has picked up various accolades along the way.

 The excellent Jonathan Owens Band will provide the music for all the acts and the event will run from 1pm until 7pm.

Barry John Ryan from the organising committee says they are delighted to host the first ever major outdoor country music festival in Mallow: “We have a top facility here in Mallow and were lucky to secure such a fine GAA complex back in 2007. It is the perfect setting for the North Cork Country Music Festival and it is a brilliant community facility for the people of Mallow who appreciate it so much.

“Our loyal committee and volunteers are putting a major effort behind the country music festival. We have excellent parking on-site, facilitated by Dairy Gold and local farmers who have provided access to us for the day. 

“Mallow is on the main Dublin to Cork railway line and is also the change junction for Kerry. We are very well serviced by public transport and only 20 minutes from the north side of Cork city. We are delighted with the response and we are all looking forward to a brilliant day in Mallow on Sunday,” says Barry John.

Tickets are €25, on sale from several outlets in the region and will also be available on the day. Under 16s go free when accompanied by adults. CL