Ballymore revives country music festival

With filmstar looks, cool country songs, and a growing international following, it’s hardly surprising that singing sensations Nathan Carter and Derek Ryan have been attracting a whole new generation of fans to country music.

But it’s rare enough to get to see them at the same venue – and on the same bill as a number of other of Ireland’s top acts, including Robert Mizzell, The Sheerins, and the still unequalled Ray Lynam.

That’s the line-up that’s been sending country fans into a frenzy since the village of Ballymore in Co Westmeath announced that it was reviving the country music festival that was the August Bank Holiday fixture for music fans for several years in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Also appearing are TR Dallas, Brendan Shine, Mick Flavin, Chris Loughrey, Simon Casey, Lisa McHugh and Johnny Brady. The man with the microphone, compering events for the day, will be the Sunday World journalist – and Westmeath man – Eddie Rowley. The revived Ballymore Country Music Festival takes place on August 5, from 2 pm, with gates open at 12 noon. The village is half way between Mullingar and Athlone.

Tickets for the event are just €20; children U16 are admitted free.

And what a setting: on the shores of Lough Sewdy, on the verdant grounds of Ballymore GAA field, just one mile from the village’s main street, this is an ideal concert site, with lots of space for parking, and for that day only, a one-way traffic system on the approach roads, allowing easy access to and exit from the venue.

There will be a full bar at the venue, and full onsite catering – so no need to do more than pop into your car and arrive. The event is all in a good cause: it’s to help with the upgrading of facilities at the GAA field, shared by the local clubs, Ballymore GAA football club, and the Fr Dalton’s Hurling Club.

Tickets are available from: Ballymore country Music Festival Tickets available from Ballymore GAA Club members; and from Liam Claffey on 0872499800 and Carmel Sheerin on: 0874152301. Tickets also available from these outlets: Ballymore - Rooney’s Day Break; Athlone - Westmeath Independent and McNeill’s, Dublin Road. Rosemount - Fox’s Newsagents; Legan - Whyte’s supermarket; Cavan - Anglo Celt newspaper offices; Navan - Meath Chronicle newspaper offices; Moate – Harten’s newsagents and The Grand Hotel; Mullingar - Westmeath Examiner newspaper offices, Sports Outlet, Austin Friar Street and Rochforts newsagents, Dominick Street.