Saddle Up, Newry! — Country Music Festival Rides Into Town Today

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: Columba O'Hare; Category: Arts, TV and Entertainment; Published: 03 July 2026

Newry Goes Nashville

Declan McConaghy is all ready for Newry Goes Nashville. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie

Newry Goes Nashville begins today bringing with it a packed programme of country music and fun happening throughout the city from now till Sunday 5 July.

Chris Kent 30 October and Blondie Tribute 28 December @ Canal Court Hotel

There's something for all the family and the city hospitality venues will be buzzing with life the whole weekend. The event is led by Newry BID and co-ordinated by the venues.

Opening the event at the Canal Court this morning Deborah Loughran, representing Newry BID said: "Some of the feedback that we got last year was to have more during the day and more for families, and I think we've tried to achieve that. We have pop-up music trails happening in random places, from the bus station to DeliLites, to Tesco's, to Marks and Spencer's, happening right across the weekend. We have lots more activities for kids.

Following on Declan McConaghy, The Roving Cowboy sang his own Newry version of Garth Brooks Friends in Low Places to get the show on the road.

"Tomorrow morning [Saturday] we start at 10 o'clock for kids and you can go right through, spending the whole day in the town right through to the Buttercrane Hoe-Down and then hopefully the parents will send the kids home exhausted and come back out to come to the bars on Saturday night

There are so many highlights over the weekend. There's the John Dolan Band in Nan Rices tonight 3 July, The Railway Boys in The Railway Bar and Alan Chapman in The Bridge.

Newry Goes Nashville is underway - Pictured this morning at the Canal Court Hotel are some of the organisers. Included from left are Deborah Loughran, King Communication/ Newry BID; Louise Young, Canal Court Hotel; Sabrina McTaggart and Delia Magee, Magees Bar; Joe Moan and Pamela Salinger, Nan Rices; Bronagh Clerkin, Sign, Rhyme and Shine and Declan McConaghy, Declan McConaghy Show. A mountain of entertainment on day and night 3-5 July. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie

Buttercrane are hosting a Boots and Beats Hoedown tomorrow, 4 July while Tempo Promotions are hosting a massive night of American country in the Canal Court tomorrow night - 'Friends in Low Places' The Ultimate Garth Brooks Experience by Trevor Smith with tickets on sale at www.eventbrite.co.uk or at the door.

There's a Dolly Parton tribute night on in Magees Bar on Saturday night too and there's Luke Connor and a Rodeo Bull keeping the crack going in Ginger Janes.

Sunday there's Join in Jivin at The Quays and Trucks and Tractors at the Buttercrane and the weekend finishes off with live music all day and all night in bars throughout the city.

Get yourselves out to support the events and make Newry the place to be this weekend.