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Newry singer Susan McCann will celebrate 50 years in the business in a special episode of Opry le Daniel ar Thuras on TG4. Her show is the sixth in the new series, which begins on Thursday 29 October at 10.30pm. The series was recorded in Derry’s Millennium Forum and is hosted by Daniel O’Donnell, with a variety of special guests.
Susan’s episode will be broadcast on Thursday 3 December. She will sing some of her classic songs, including ‘Broken the Speed of the Sound of Loneliness’ and ‘A Mother’s Love’s a Blessing’. She will be joined by special guests, among them Co Derry’s Brendan Quinn, her daughter Linda and her granddaughter Sinead Hegarty.
Daniel O'Donnell
The series is TG4 television’s highest-rated country music series and is produced by Newry based Big Mountain Productions. It will have six music shows and a further two compilation programmes over eight weeks. It was recorded earlier this summer before a live audience over three nights.
The first episode, on Thursday 29 October, celebrates ‘Classic Country’. Michael English (Co Laois) sings hits such as ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’, while Olivia Douglas (Co Offaly) joins Daniel to perform ‘Walk on By’ and other songs. Derry’s David James sings ‘Neon Moon’.
The second episode, on Thursday 5 November, features ‘New Country’ artists. County Monaghan’s Damian Davis performs classic hits such as ‘Your Loving Eyes’ and Co Cork’s Effie Neill sings ‘Dreaming of You’. Singer Ruairidh Gray from the Island of South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides, will perform ‘Loch Maree’.
The third programme, on Thursday 12 November, celebrates ‘Country n Irish’. Donegal’s Margo sings classic hits such as ‘A Mother’s Prayer’ and Andy Cooney, direct from the US, performs ‘Rose of Ballinrobe’ and other songs. Caitríona Ní Cheannabháin (Co Galway) will sing ‘Peigí Leitir Mór’.
‘Country Folk’ is the theme of the fourth show, on Thursday 19 November. Seán Keane (Co Galway) sings classic hits such as ‘Galway Bay’ in memory of his late sister Dolores. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, lead singer with Altan, will sing ‘Téir Abhaile Riú’ with guest musician Manus Lunny.
The fifth programme, on Thursday 26 November, celebrates ‘Contemporary Country’. County Tyrone’s Donna Taggart sings hits such as ‘Love Will Bring You Home’ and Co Galway’s Rachel Goode performs ‘Just One Time’ and other songs. Simon Casey (Co Offaly) will sing ‘I Loved Her First’.
The series finishes with two special programmes on Thursday 10 December and Thursday 17 December, featuring highlights from the six shows.
Daniel O’Donnell says: “It was fantastic to be back on stage for another new series of Opry le Daniel. The Millennium Forum in Derry always has a great atmosphere and the audiences are brilliant, so it’s a real pleasure to be back. We had a wonderful mix of music and some great guests this time around, with something for everyone, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the shows on TG4.”
Each programme will be available to view after broadcast on the TG4 player.
