Country and showband singers hit road for the festival

Every country and showband singer worth his or her salt (including a few highly seasoned ones), along with some 20,000 avid fans…

Every country and showband singer worth his or her salt (including a few highly seasoned ones), along with some 20,000 avid fans, will descend on Bundoran this weekend for the third annual October music festival.

"This could be heaven, or this could be hell," as the song goes.

It all depends on your taste, your stamina, and perhaps your age.

Age certainly does not wither the amazing audience attraction of "the one and only" Joe Dolan, who heads the multiple bill for the festival. "I probably wouldn't be putting on a festival at all if I didn't have Joe," admits the festival impresario, James Cafferty of Show Tours Ltd.

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The three Dolan concerts will inevitably be sell-out events. But all the artists coming to Bundoran have their individual followings. Names like Johnny McEvoy, Hugo Duncan, Susan McCann, Brendan Shine, Sandy Kelly, Smokie, Brendan Shine and Mick Flavin tell the story. And Big Tom, too, will be there to sing Gentle Mother.

The Co Donegal resort is apparently going from strength to strength. "It's the only town in the country that has at least five good venues," says James Cafferty. There are three that can each accommodate audiences of 1,000 and several others that come close to that.

"We also go to Bundoran because there are plenty of beds," he points out. "Since the May bank holiday weekend, about 550 extra beds have become available there."

The fans will come from far and near, and 65 per cent of it is repeat business, he says. Fifty coaches from around Ireland and Britain will pull into the town today, as 24 bands prepare for the live music marathon.

It will all, hopefully, be good clean fun, but bring the cotton wool and aspirin.

Festival hotline: 01-8731111