TG4 television’s highest viewed country music show, Opry le Daniel, returns to
Millennium Forum, Derry for seven nights in May. With two concerts per night
scheduled from 7.45pm, Opry is the biggest televised extravaganza of country music
with artists from both home and abroad performing on stage with Ireland’s own legend
of country music, Daniel O’ Donnell.
Series seven kicks off on Sunday 13 th May with the first of one of this year’s new concept
shows, ‘Country Music Family’, which introduces well known singer/guitarist Brendan
Quinn performing with his sons James and Stephen, both accomplished performers in
their own right whilst the second concert of the opening night sees the legendary
Charley Pride take to the stage. Pride, of course, needs no introduction to country
music followers the world over and makes his only appearance in Ireland in 2018 in
Derry.
Monday 14 th has Opry giving a fantastic tribute show to the iconic George Jones with
Jimmy Buckley and Robert Mizzell performing some of George’s best known songs with
none other than special guest Georgette Jones, daughter of country music’s golden
couple, George Jones and Tammy Wynette. The second concert again features a ‘Country
Music Family’, this time with Dominic Kirwan and sons Barry and Colm, the latter taking
time out from his successful American television appearances to appear with his Dad
and brother.
Ireland’s latest ‘superstar’ Derek Ryan takes to the stage on Tuesday 15 th with his dad
Pat and brother Adrian for the third of the ‘Country Music Family’ shows followed by the
new, up and coming stars of the country scene, ‘Young Country’ artists including Stuart
Moyles, Keelan Arbuckle, Olivia Douglas, Caitlin and Brandon Mc Phee from Scotland.
Wednesday 16 th brings together the ‘Classic Country’ artists from the ‘70’s era who kept
country music alive during the ‘disco’ years and nostalgia will be the word on the night
with John Hogan, Kathy Durkin, Shawn Cuddy and Gloria, still performing as strongly as
ever, bringing us that classic country sound once more. Also appearing will be the new,
‘Contemporary Country’ performers of the modern era, Donna Taggart, Jacqui Sharkey
and Niamh Mc Glinchey, giving us their own style of country.
Two of the biggest names in country music are paid tribute to on Thursday and Friday,
17 th and 18 th , with Ireland’s ‘Queen of Country’ Sandy Kelly, Declan Nerney and Jordan
Mogey ‘singing’ Johnny Cash. Both Sandy and Declan toured or sang with the ‘man in
black’ whilst Jordan has a repertoire of Cash songs which has him receive many reviews
from his peers. Following the tribute show is one of the undoubted ‘princesses’ of the
country music scene, Lisa Mc Hugh, whose vast following extends to all corners of
Ireland and abroad, while the final ‘tribute’ show on the Friday is attributed to the one
and only ‘Gentleman of Country’, Mr. Jim Reeves. Paying tribute is the undoubted no.1
performer of Reeves songs, Al Grant accompanied by Tony Kerr, Patrick Feeney and
Matt Leavy.
Closing night, Saturday 19 th , brings together a plethora of female singing artists with the
first concert being a celebration of the music and songs of who was once described as
the leading female country music artist in the world, the fabulous Loretta Lynn. Leading
this exceptional night is none other than Loretta’s granddaughter, Tayla Lynn and
Leona Williams, all the way from Tennessee, the latter having performed many times
with Loretta both on stage and screen. Joining them will be Niamh Lynn and Louise
Morrissey, two of Ireland’s best female country music artists of our time. The closing
concert of the night will host the enigmatic Rita Coolidge, known worldwide as the
‘females female artist’, better known by many for penning such songs as ‘Help me make
it through the Night’ and ‘Me and Bobby Magee’ with her then husband Kris
Kristofferson.
Closing night at Opry le Daniel at Millennium Forum, Derry will certainly be a night not
to be missed. Recorded in front of a live audience, mixing profiles/archive and
comments from their biggest fans, Opry le Daniel brings the essence of Nashville’s Grand
Ole Opry to Derry.
For those wishing to travel to the Opry concerts, bus transport is available from Doherty
Travel, Dungloe; tel. 07495 21105; Brennan Coaches, Ardara; tel. 087 6779933; Boyce
Travel, Letterkenny; tel. 07491 51043; Furey’s Concert Travel, Sligo; tel: 07191 73055;
