The annual Country in the Kingdom dancing festival will take place at The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, on 20 to 22 June. Once again, there’s a fine line-up of some of the top attractions on the country dancing circuit in Ireland. There will be dancing from 9pm to 1am, Friday to Sunday (1.30am on the Saturday), as well as afternoon dances from 3pm to 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The weekend gets underway with Patrick O’Sullivan first on stage at the Friday night show. He will be followed by Jimmy Buckley and his band.

Eddie Lee and band provide the music for the afternoon dance on Saturday. Later, TR Dallas takes the stage at 9pm and Michael English and his band will keep the dancers happy for the late night dance. Afternoon dancing on Sunday, 22 June, the longest day of the year, is to Glór Tíre winner Michael Collins and his band from Limerick.

Trudi Lalor and her band take to the stage from 9pm to 11pm and Robert Mizzell and his acclaimed country band will bring the curtains down on what should be another memorable country weekend in the Gleneagle Hotel. Tickets for all dancers will be available at the door.

However, a special value weekend pass to cover all five dances can be purchased for €50 on Friday night, 20 June, at the ballroom door. This special weekend pass can also be purchased in advance from The Gleneagle Hotel reception on 064-6671500. Visit countrymusicholidays.com

Caroline plans ahead for Cahir show

The annual fundraising dance for various causes will be held in Cahir House Hotel in Co Tipperary on Tuesday, 2 September.

Caroline Walshe has once again a big line-up to entertain the patrons and among those confirmed for the show are Louise Morrissey, Michael English, Philomena Begley, Patrick Feeney, John McNicholl, Johnny Brady, Crystal Swing, Trevor Loughrey, Vicky Kenny, Damien Bowe, TR Dallas, Richie Hayes, Davitts Country Band, Aidan Quinn, Des Willoughby, Paul Kelly, Simon and Amy Donegan, Gerald Ahern, Carmel McLoughlin, Patricia McGuire, Grainne Gavigan, Morrissey and Daniels, Larissa Garrigan, and the Celtic Blonde Dancers. The Ryan Turner Band will back all the artists. The compere for the night will be Norman Morrissey.

Tickets are €20 and can be bought by calling 052-7444000 or at the door.

NEW ALBUM FROM MAJELLA AND DAWN

Majella Yorston and Dawn Hetherington, sisters from Surrey, England, recently recorded several tracks for a new album, arranged and produced by Frank McCaffrey at his studio in Westport.

Their parents, Christina and Harry Hetherington, originally from Culmore Road in Derry, shared a great love for music with their family. Harry played accordion and drums and Christina played guitar. The girls grew up in Surrey, surrounded by all types of music.

The family formed a band when the girls were in their early teens, known as Majella and The Derryairs which also featured Harry and Christina and their uncle Joseph.

They toured the UK and Ireland with their own show for several years, as well as working alongside many artists including Brendan Shine, Dermot O’Brien, Roly Daniels and Johnny McEvoy. During that time they also recorded an album called We Should be Together at Big Tom’s Studios in Castleblayney.

Christina and Harry also owned a house in Co Galway and the family came over and spent summer days enjoying the wide range of live music and festivals around that region.

As young performers, the girls admired the talents of Frank McCaffrey and his band and, having also followed his hugely-successful solo career, they were delighted to have been able to work with Frank on this project.

Majella and Dawn are both involved in a wide variety of the arts in Surrey, including music and theatre, and they both teach music and drama. They had a great time in Westport and were delighted with the hospitality and warm welcome extended to them by so many people. Watch out for the new album in the weeks ahead.

DO YOU WANNA DANCE WITH

GRAHAM MURRAY

Wexford singer/ songwriter Graham Murray has released his new single, Do You Wanna Dance. The latest song from Graham presented him with a challenge that he rose to in style.

“The dance halls have changed a lot from former time, but dancing to country music is again as popular as it has ever been. Granted, men and women no longer sit separately, but the idea of approaching a woman to ask her to dance, or to even speak to her, is still as scary for some men as it was years ago.”

Graham is currently in the process of promoting his music across the globe, with an outreach to Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Holland and Denmark.

Do You Wanna Dance is now on release and available for download from iTunes.

NEW ALBUM FROM BRENDAN QUINN

Brendan Quinn has always been one of Ireland’s top country singers. The man from Magherafelt has recorded some terrific material since he first launched on the circuit back in the 1970s.

He enjoyed top 10 chart success with Four In The Morning, Behind Closed Doors and several other songs. His version of I Can Almost See My Hometown From Here is possibly the best ever recorded anywhere.

This week sees Brendan release a double track with songs taken from his forthcoming album. Feels Like Home is a Randy Newman song that Brendan makes his own by reinterpreting it as a folk waltz. Take My Love With You is a song from the pen of Ben Sands, one of the famous folk family from Co Down.

“Brendan Quinn has been one of my favourite singers for the past 40 years,” says singer, performer and songwriter, Shay Healy.

“His special ability to tell a story in song, lifted him out of the pack and made him a star with his recordings of classic songs. He is also a brilliant guitar player and someone I have always held in the highest regard.”

Brendan has recorded a wonderful version of a monologue about the life of Hank Williams, which was written by Shay Healy in recent years.

Brendan continues to be much in demand for shows around the country and overseas. The south Derry man is still up there with the best of them.