Successful tour

‘Walk the Line’ tour a success

Country Roads
Michael Commins

IT WAS a trip of a lifetime for Robert Mizzell and a group of 110 fans and friends as they enjoyed a ten-day journey through Arkansas, Tennessee and Virginia. Following in the footsteps of Johnny Cash, the ‘Walk the Line’ tour brought the Irish contingent to the heartlands of the Cash legend. And the red carpet was rolled out in many places to welcome Robert and friends to regions where the country heartbeat is still tops.
Eugene McDermott from Castlebar was one of the coordinators of the trip. He recalls some of the highlights of some magical days and nights in the southern states: “The tour started in Memphis, where we visited Graceland, Sun Studios and the Rock ’n Roll Museum, but the highlight of this leg was the visit to Dyess, Arkansas, where Johnny Cash grew up from the age of three.
“In Dyess, the group were pictured in front of an old colonial building. Television cameras, a news reporter and a number of local celebrities were on hand to greet the group. Local people served up a spectacular lunch for all. After the meal, the television cameras rolled again, the dignitaries made welcoming speeches, and Robert was invited to provide the entertainment accompanied by Martin Cleary.
“We also visited Jackson and, on the way to Nashville the group stopped at the house and museum of the coalminer’s daughter, Loretta Lynn.
“On arrival in Nashville, the group were met by George Hamilton IV, the ‘International Ambassador of Country Music’. Later, George IV and Tommy Cash supplied the evening entertainment. Tommy delivered the old standards made famous by his late brother Johnny, interspersed with stories about his family.
“The following morning the group travelled to Hendersonville, outside Nashville, and to the graves of Johnny and June Carter Cash. People spent some time in quiet reflection and moved along nearby to the graves of June’s parents, her daughter Reba and Merle Kilgore, who co-wrote Ring Of Fire with June. At the graves, Joanne Cash (Johnny’s sister) joined the tour party. She sang ‘I Still Miss Someone’ and posed for photos.
“No visit to Nashville would be complete without a visit to the Grand Ole Opry and this group were in for a treat. They had the pleasure of being entertained by some of the best, including The Whites, Bobby Osborne, Ray Pillow, Connie Smith, John Conlee, Jessie Mc Reynolds, Eddie Raven and Kathy Mattea.
“Later, a special show was held for the Robert Mizzell group at the Carter Family Fold in the Hiltons, Virginia. Before the show, the tour group had a chance to visit the old AP Carter Store, and the Carter Family Museum.
“An early morning start took us to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The final two nights were spent in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We also visited Dolly Parton’s Theme Park, Dollywood, which is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.”
Robert Mizzell and The Country Kings, fresh from their US experience, will play in the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, tonight, Tuesday, May 27.

Mayo dancers waltz to the top

THE Mayo folk were much to the fore when it came to ballroom waltzing at the recent Fleadh Ibiza. Knockmore couple Paddy and Josephine Nallen scooped the top prize at the grand final on the closing night of the first week. And Castlerea based Teresa Duignan, formerly Henry from Tooreen, who partnered Paddy McGloin from Bundoran for the dance finals on the last night of the Fleadh, also landed the premier award.
Several couples competed in the series before the field was eventually narrowed down to the last three for the finals on both weeks.
Watched by hundreds of admirers, the dancers graced the ballroom floor with style and elegance to some beautiful waltz music.
Well done to Paddy and Josephine and Teresa and Paddy on their respective wins.