Derek Ryan to star at Ballymore festival

One of the events that bit the dust when Covid caused Ireland to shut down in 2020 was the annual Ballymore Country Music Festival – but there is good news ahead.

“It is back on this year, on August 1,” confirms Willie Finerty, the local GAA stalwart who has the onerous task of overseeing the committee tasked organising the festival.

With seven years’ experience under their belt, the committee already have much of the organising well in hand, and the line-up has even been finalised: “Derek Ryan and his band are headlining it,” Willie reveals, pleased to have secured the services of a performer who has always been very popular with the crowds in Ballymore at previous festivals.

There’s a wealth of other talent appearing, the cream of Ireland’s country scene – Cliona Hagan, Robert Mizzell, Johnny Brady, Gerry Guthrie, Kieran Rosney, The Sheerin Family Band, Bríd Shaughnessy, Saddletrap and Andy Feery.

The event is held as a joint fundraiser for Ballymore GAA, who are chaired by Ciaran McCormack, and Fr Dalton’s hurling club, chaired by Brian McCabe, and thus the venue is the fine GAA pitch outside the village, on the shores of Lough Sewdy.

There is some parking at the GAA grounds themselves, and a large overspill car park close to the village, and as in previous years, shuttle buses will ferry festival goers from the car park to the venue and also to and from Ballymore village.

The concert grounds are to open from noon, and the first act will be onstage at 12.30pm.

There will be a bar on-site and a variety of caterers, and some entertainment for children.

Tickets are to cost just €25, and will be available both online and via local outlets, the list of which is currently being finalised.

Dancing fans will have something special to look forward to an actual wooden dance floor – ideal for everyone from the jivers to the line dancers.

When it comes to lighting and sound, no expense has been spared, and Willie explains that it was important to the organising committee and the GAA and hurling clubs that the high standard set in previous years is maintained.

It is a huge undertaking, Willie says, stressing however that the membership of both clubs pitch in enthusiastically – both sides of the festival dates: “It takes a full week beforehand to get the field ready – and most of the week after to clear everything away.”

Willie is looking forward to the festival: “It’s a great occasion for the village: the whole village always looks very well for it,” he says, adding that the event always attracts great local support, as well as drawing in fans from various parts of the country: “A lot of people have been remarking that they missed it: even people you wouldn’t be thinking of,” he says.

Ballymore Country Music Festival on Facebook.