Gerry for Abbeylara jamboree

The village of Abbeylara in Longford will host a country jamboree on Easter Sunday evening. The headline act will be Gerry Guthrie, the man from Ballina.

The jamboree will be held in the new Parish Centre in Abbeylara and the organisers are hoping for big support for this debut venture.

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“With Irish country music and jiving becoming so popular, the committee is excited about the jamboree in Abbeylara and we look forward to welcoming all to dance, jive and sing the evening away.

“The event gets underway at 4pm and we will have a variety of singers and acts, with Gerry Guthrie making his first appearance in Abbeylara,” says Jenny and Patricia McMahon from the committee.

Kelly family bereaved

Cathal Kelly from Swords, Dublin, and formerly of Castlerea, who died last week following a brief illness, was a brother of Tom Kelly from Ballina, one of the top showbusiness managers in Ireland.

Tom has looked after the diary of Brendan Grace for many years and also promotes the concert tours of Johnny McEvoy, Isla Grant and Mike Denver. Another brother, Mike Kelly, who resides in Sligo, has been involved with the band scene for many years as well.

Cathal, who died peacefully at St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown, was a former member of the Nursing Staff of St Ita’s Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Marian, daughters, Sinead, Sorcha and Niamh, sons-in-law, grandchildren, brothers, Tom, Liam and Mike, relatives and friends.

Laois shock at death of Michael Walsh

News of the sudden death of Michael Walsh, one of the true greats of Laois hurling, sent shockwaves around the county last week.

The former Avonmore (Ballyragget) employee was 64 and collapsed outside the family home.

Michael, who was affectionately known to all as Maggie, was a passionate Ballinakill man, who hurled with the club from the late 1960s – until he won a Laois Junior B medal as goalie with the team in 2003. He also hurled senior county with Laois for several seasons. He was selected on the Laois Hurling Team of the Millennium back in 2000.

Maggie was chosen for the Leinster Railway Cup team on numerous occasions during the 1970s and also represented Ireland in the Shinty internationals against Scotland.

He won eight senior inter-county firms titles with Avonmore, playing alongside some great Kilkenny hurlers of the era – winning Man of the Match honours on a regular basis.

He was also a gifted golfer, squash player and excelled at darts.

He loved country music and along with his wife, Dolores (nee Hughes from Elphin), attended a country event in the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney just two weeks ago.

Michael ‘Maggie’ Walsh was truly one of nature’s gentlemen, a proud son of his beloved Laois, and his passing will be mourned by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

He is deeply missed by his wife, Dolores, son, Trevor, daughter, Orla, his sisters, Margaret and Alice, son-in-law, Mick, grandsons, Donnacha and Odhran, the family circle, neighbours and a legion of friends.

Ireland West night in Bundoran

The Ireland West Music TV Night with the Stars takes place in the Great Northern Hotel in Bundoran on Tuesday 11 April. The hosts for the night are Paul Claffey and Gerry Glennon.

The seven acts on the concert show are Michael English, Mike Denver, Gerry Guthrie, Cliona Hagan, Jimmy Buckley, Declan Nerney and Johnny Brady. Tickets are available online and hotel reception.

Big Tom is Donegal bound

Big Tom and The Mainliners have announced their first dance date for 2017. The legendary Monaghan band will return to The Abbey Hotel in Donegal town on Friday night, 28 April.

The news has been warmly welcomed by Big Tom’s legion of supporters. Other dates are expected to be announced shortly for the summer months.

Nigel the Dreamer

Meath native Nigel Connell released his new single last week. The song, Dreamer, is a co-write between John Farry and leading Nashville based writer, Ralph Murphy. It was produced by Mark Cahill.

The Athboy native is a former drummer with the Daniel O’Donnell band and was also a finalist in The Voice of Ireland series.