Mayo well represented at Country Music Garden Party at Áras an Uachtaráin

WHEN the invitation came to attend a Garden Party in Áras an Uachtaráin in the Phoenix Park in Dublin a few weeks ago, I decided I might as well accept it and visit the place for the first time ever. My daughter Fiona gladly accepted the ‘guest’ invitation to the special celebration of Irish Country Music.

This was the last Garden Party being undertaken by President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina (née Coyne from Cloonrane, Ballindine) and around 600 people were in attendance with many well-known names from the Irish country music scene as well as radio presenters from the country music genre and promoters and others associated with the scene over years.

A heavy downpour half an hour earlier gave way to sunny skies and it was a lovely and warm get-together on the grounds of this special home in Dublin with views out over the Dublin mountains in the distance.

“Sabina and I are delighted to welcome you all to Áras an Uachtaráin for this special celebration of Irish country music. We also want to acknowledge the work being undertaken by the many organisations represented here today and to all who are central to the fabric of sustainable communities across the island of Ireland. Whether you are a musician or a music lover, our wish is that you all have a most enjoyable time,” said President Higgins.

Fiona Commins from Murneen, Claremorris, was delighted to meet Sabina Higgins in Áras an Uachtaráin recently. Both are former students of Mount St Michael Convent of Mercy in Claremorris and Sabina was delighted to share some memories of her time in the school.

Later in the evening, a special country concert was held in the big tent featuring Sandy Kelly, Brendan Shine, Seán Keane, Claudia Buckley, Patrick Feeney, Cliona Hagan and Derek Ryan. The house band featured Enda Dempsey (who now resides in Ballindine), Tony Fitzgibbon (Charlestown), Wayne Golden, James Blennerhasset and Daniel Duggan. The compére were Brian Lally (RTÉ) and Valerie Hughes from Galway Bay FM who resides in Milltown.

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It was lovely to meet up with so many people from the country music scene around the country and among those from the western region were Tom Gilmore (Tuam), Joe Finnegan (Knock and Roscommon), Seamus Gallagher (Claremorris), Patrick Feeney (Sligo), Sean Keane (Galway), Frank and Marie McCaffrey (Westport), Sandy Kelly (Sligo) and Castlebar native, Vincent Murray, who has promoted many shows in Limerick over the years and resides in Ashford on the Limerick-Kerry border.

President Michael D Higgins showed his outreach to the country music fraternity in an incredible way when paying a private visit to the McBride family home in Oram, Castleblayney, on the passing of Ireland’s great ever country legend, Big Tom, in April 2018, and presiding at the unveiling of the Big Tom monument on Castleblayney in September of that year. Country music followers are extremely loyal and they have never forgotten the beautiful tribute and honour shown to Big Tom by Michael D. We wish him and Sabina all the best in their upcoming retirement later this year.

Pictured above enjoying the recent County Music Garden Party at Áras an Uachtaráin were Michael Commins (The Mayo News), Sabina Higgins (wife of President Michael D Higgins), Vincent Murray (Limerick, and formerly of New Antrim Street, Castlebar) and his wife Betsy who is an aunt of Cork traditional singer, Annmarie O’Riordan.