It will be his 30th album release and it will put him right up there with just a handful of others who can claim to have hit the 30th mark in the recording stakes.

“I suppose it is a fair achievement in its own right,” says Paddy. “But I have always loved the studio and look forward so much to recording each new album. There are a lot of great artists who have a dread of spending time in the studio. At the end of the day, it really is a case of different strokes for different folks.”

One of These Days is the title of Paddy’s new album, which features a fine blend of country and Irish songs, all handled by Paddy in his own inimitable style. A track from the album, The Better Part Of Life, a lovely song from the pen of Dolly Parton, has been issued as a radio-play single in advance of the album launch.

“Choosing songs for a new album is both satisfying and challenging and demands a lot of careful attention. I always try and include some lesser-known songs that have not been covered by other artists here in Ireland. There are so many wonderful songs out there,” reflects Paddy.

The Hazel Tree has been a favourite launching pad for Paddy over the years and it is no surprise to see him return to the Co Cork venue on the 6 July. Joining him for the big night will be Robert Mizzell, Michael English, John Hogan, Patrick Feeney, Gary Gamble and The Ryan Turner Band, with dancing getting underway at 9pm.

All of Paddy’s albums are now available on cd. One of These Days will be available at all his gigs from 6 July onwards as well as from record stores and by post or through PayPal from Paddy’s website.

It was back in the mid-1980s that the man from Aglish in Co Waterford first began to branch out on the country circuit. A major break came his way when he was chosen to represent Ireland at the European Country Gold Star Awards in Holland in late 1988.

“That was an honour I will always cherish,” says Paddy. “It is very special to have a chance to represent your country and such opportunities are few and far between. It also enabled me to make contacts with other European countries and I had the privilege in later years of performing in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

“There is still a good interest in my music in those countries and several people have stayed in touch with me over the years.

“Now, after 27 years touring on the road, I still enjoy bringing our music to the dancers and concert-goers in Ireland and across the UK and further afield. The annual get-together of friends in Dungarvan and Wexford is a long-running tradition and I am blessed to have so many loyal friends and followers in country music.”

This weekend, Paddy is coordinating a big country dancing weekend in White’s of Wexford, featuring a double bill each night. It opens on Friday 12 June with Declan Nerney and Stephen Smyth and their bands. The Saturday night double-bill features Patrick Feeney and Paddy O’Brien and their bands while the Sunday night show has Michael English and Shaun Loughrey and bands. Dancing starts at 9.30pm nightly.

Theresa, Tony and The Stars provide the music for afternoon dancing on Saturday, while Thomas Maguire and Fhiona Ennis do likewise on Sunday from 3pm to 5pm. Pat Tobin leads the nightly sing-alongs in the bar.

For more details about the shows and weekend packages, contact White’s Hotel on 053-9192040.

For more news on Paddy O’Brien, check out his website www.paddyobrien.com.