“Excellent music and craic” promised at Mullahoran Festival

STELLAR Tumbling Paddies amongst the all star line-up

With country music festivals on the rise throughout the country, Mullahoran is bracing itself for huge crowds and full houses on each of the three nights of top notch entertainers.

Mullahoran Country Music Festival organiser Ciaran Brady hailed last year's festival as “the biggest ever” and expects to top it this year.

The three day festival will kick off on Friday, July 14 with one of Ireland’s most successful entertainers Jimmy Buckley and Ballina based singer Gerry Guthrie with hits like ‘Another Saturday Night,’ ‘The Mermaid’ and ‘Did She Mention My Name’.

Saturday will bring The Tumbling Paddies, making the short distance down from Fermanagh.

Ciaran rightly describes them as “the band that’s top of the list at the moment”. As such “a huge crowd” is expected. If anyone can match the Tumbling Paddies' appeal it's Mike Denver who will round off the eagerly anticipated double bill.

“Tickets are going very fast for that night,” Ciaran warned, urging anyone considering heading along to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Closing the event will be folk band Ruaile Buaile, meaning ‘cheerful mayhem’ in Irish. The band certainly live up to their name and are sure to open Sunday night with a bang. The five-piece band will be followed by the “ever popular” Cliona Hagan. Closing the festival will be Johnny Brady, to whom you can sing and jive the night away with.

“That’s always a huge night for us,” Ciaran explained of the festial finale.

“All the other festivals have sold out so far this year,” he said.

“We're expecting to sell out also because we have a great line up,” he said.

The option to pay on the door is available however Ciaran encouraged everybody to buy the ticket online or from Lynches Gala shop in Killydoon to avoid disappointment on the night.

“Have your tickets bought,” he said, mentioning other festivals who have had to turn people away due to full capacity.

The festival will take place at Mullahoran GAA grounds and will be entirely indoors with what the organising committee feel is “one of the best music venues in the country.”

“The weather won’t affect it,” Ciaran said, mentioning that there will be a separate marquee where the bar will be placed to avoid mixing “drinkers with dancers”.

“Dancers can dance away in comfort,” he said.

All proceeds raised will go towards the running of the club, which has just installed a new training field at a cost of over €200,000.

Doors will open at 8.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 7.30pm on Sunday.

He said those planning to attend are “guaranteed three nights of excellent music and craic.”

Tickets cost €25 each or €60 for a weekend ticket; they can be bought here https://www.ticketsource.eu/ mullahoran-gfc/mullahoran- country-music-festival/e- pxyzka