Big name line-up as Durkin marks 35 years in music

Hotel Kilmore hosts celebratory concert

Butlersbridge native Kathy Durkin will celebrate 35 years in entertainment with a celebratory show in the Hotel Kilmore.

Cavan’s country queen will be joined by special guests Margo, Philomena Begley, Sandy Kelly and Olivia Douglas on stage on Friday, September 12.

With the show date looming and excitement building, Kathy spoke to the Celt of how her past thirty-five years on the stage have been.

“Hell,” she says in jest to the Celt, with a mischievous laugh down the phone line. She counters this by detailing the highlights of her career, namely recording of some of her hit songs; the dreamy waltz ‘The Clock In The Tower’, ‘Midnight To Moonlight’ and ‘Working Man’.

“‘The Working Man’ still is a huge hit,” she describes.

She also recalls experiences such as playing for Mary Robinson and performing over in America.

“I did have great times there’s no doubt about that,” she said, remembering the days she went to Wembley Country Festival and played before thousands of people, while also meeting the big names in American County Music such as Willie Nelson, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris.

“They were great times.”

Inspired

While she looks back on her career to date with fond memories, Kathy does point out that “it was not easy”, especially with two young boys growing up.

“I did not know an awful lot about the music business at the time, I went into it with my eyes closed,” she admits.

Her musical career is inspired by her father Eugene Leddy, who had a Ceili Band for years. Kathy would have grown up singing ballads, before later making her way into the country music scene. In the business since 1989, she said the “hard part” was trying to manage a band, equipment and tours. Three and a half decades on, the now Ballinagh woman feels she is where she wants to be in her musical career.

“I had a band for so many years but I had to give it up otherwise it would have given me up. I got out of the band scene and now I only do guest spots.

“It’s nicer, there’s more prestige to it. “I’m getting to do what I want to do with my life, before this I was doing seven days a week. I came out the other end and I’m doing what I want to do now.”

Amazing

Kathy will be surrounded by women on stage next Friday night with Philomena Begley, Sandy Kelly, Margo and Olivia Douglas performing, all backed by the amazing Keltic Storm Band. She tells the Celt she has a lovely community of female artists around her. She’s hoping too that this camaraderie will be felt by the audience on the night.

She describes Olivia as one of the “newer singers” on the scene.

“She’s [Olivia] one of us, she plays the accordion, she’s a good singer and she’s a very natural girl.” “I think it will be different, it will be a lot of fun,” she predicts of the night, also speaking of Philomena Begley’s stories which are a must listen and Margo who is “so funny”.

“I don’t think anyone knows how funny Margo is, she’s very witty. Some of her stories, I would be doubled over laughing.”

Similarly, Sandy Kelly has been in the business for a “long time” and she will also share her experiences with the audience. A “super night of entertainment” with a mix of traditional Irish and country music to be performed, with a great night of stories also promised.

“It’s going to be a lively show and then we’ll all sing at the end together. It will be different because it’s all women.”

Meanwhile, Kathy also held her annual golf classic on August 18. It is the 33rd year of the event which she hosts for a chosen charity each year, this year’s charity being Cavan Autism Parents Support. Held in the Slieve Russell Hotel, Kathy told the Celt the venue was “full” with live entertainment also on the night.

Kathy Durkin will perform at the Hotel Kilmore on Friday, September 12.