Country Music Northern Ireland

COUNTRY CUTS Country Cuts is the official Publication of the Country Music Association Of Ireland.  ( Founded January 1969. ) It is reproduced here with the kind permission of Roger Ryan. 

Country Music Association Of Ireland. ( Founded January 1969. ) Nashville, 4 Silverdale Road, Ballinlough, Cork, Ireland. Country Cuts December 2013. Legendary Country Singer, Roly Daniels was conferred as ‘Ireland and Britain’s Country Music Ambassador to Tennessee’ by proclamation from the Governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam, on Wednesday November 20^th 2013, at a civic event at The Red Cow Moran’s Hotel, Dublin. Roly also received an award from the CMA of Ireland and from Tour America to mark the occasion. As Ambassador, Roly’s responsibilities are, amongst other things, to promote Tennessee as a place to visit – through the medium of Country Music! What better way for Roly to do this, than to record a song in tribute to Tennessee State. ‘Tennessee’ is a brand new song written especially for the occasion! Recorded in Nashville and Ireland, it features Billy Yates who co-wrote the song with Declan Quinn from LCM Promos and Deirdre Grant from Tour America! It’s a ‘Toe-Tapper’ that pays tribute to all the places in Tennessee State that draws visitors every year from Ireland & Britain. Roly was host to a Tribute Concert in his honour on November 20^th 2014 in Dublin which featured a host of artists who travelled from Nashville, Moore & Moore, Buddy Jewell and Billy Yates, to honour him. Also, the crème-de-la-crème of Irish Country including Sandy Kelly, Patrick Feeney and Jacqui Sharkey turned out to pay tribute to this great icon of Country Music. Roly will lead a 10 day fully guided tour to the USA from May 5th to 14th 2014, taking in such well known places as Branson, Memphis, and Nashville where he will headline at a Country Legends In Concert show. Following the birth of their first child Sherese on Aug. 15th, Thomas Maguire and Fhiona Ennis are currently taking some quality time out from the music business to enjoy the first months with their baby, but they haven't neglected their loyal fans though and are keeping in touch by releasing a brand new single called “Send Her Red Roses” written by Vic Holdroyd who also wrote “Hit 'Em Where It Hurts” for Fhiona. They will return to the stage with their first gig on New Year’s Eve. Daniel O’Donnell continues to delight his fans and defy the critics with the most successful run in recorded music history, by charting at least one new album every year for 25 consecutive years. Daniel remains a phenomenon. · ‘A Picture of You’ is Daniel’s brand new album and features a good variety of songs including Rita McNeil’s ‘Home I’ll Be’ and ‘Walk Tall’, a few originals written by Derek Ryan including ‘God’s Plan’ and ‘Perfect Days’ as well as one written by the late husband of Irish singer Mary Darcy titled ‘Our Anniversary’. · Other songs include; Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song; Hey, Mr Moon; Moon River; Penny Arcade; If I Didn’t Have A Dime; The Most Beautiful Girl In the World; Darlin’; I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You; The Band Played An Old Time Waltz; A Picture of You; Love Letters In The Sand. · It has been a demanding time of triumphs and tribulations for Daniel over the past few months and he has a hectic few months ahead. However he is very focused on balancing his commitments to Majella as she bravely battles through her illness and because she says “the show must go on” his busy schedule is set to continue. They are both so appreciative of the goodwill and support they have received. To coincide with the release of the album and Daniel’s new DVD titled ‘From The Heartland’ , Daniel continues his busy schedule of PR around the new album and touring, which will include a UK Tour, his annual trip to Branson from November 1^st until December 7^th and two shows in Dublin. Daniel with special guest Mary Duff is returning to the capital for his sell- out Christmas Shows on December 14^th & 15^th in the Convention Centre Dublin. This is his first concert in Dublin since 2009. Following their sell-out show earlier this year, the Rackhouse Pilfer band will pay a welcome return visit to the Rockies Club, Church Road, Cork, on Sat. Dec. 21st. This is the start of the Christmas holidays so there should be great Craic at the Rockies. As usual there's no Cover Charge. Refreshments will be served and the show will start @ 9.00pm. For those of you who (rightly) complainede about the lack of country music shows on tv, there is now an abundance of shows on Sky Channel 191 & 192. to keep you more than happy. One of the first to enter this market was Hot Country, a Cork based show, and this hs now been followed by at least a dozen more shows, and the good news is that most of them feature Irish based talent. If any Irish artist is interested in performing at the forthcoming Global Shows in Nashville during Fan Fair, on June 2nd & 3rd, 2014, please contact me and I will forward the necessary application forms to you.