NI Country stars take to stage with Daniel O’Donnell on TG4 in new series of ‘Opry le Daniel’

TG4 television’s highest-rated country music series returns with eight shows beginning Thursday, October 29 at 10.30pm.

The hugely popular series from Big Mountain Productions for TG4 will offer six music-filled shows, and a further two compilation programmes, running over eight weeks.

It was recorded earlier this summer before a live audience across three nights in Derry’s Millennium Forum, featuring legendary host and presenter Daniel O’Donnell, with a variety of special guests.

The first episode in the new series features Michael English (Co Laois), who takes to the stage to sing classic hits such as 'Rhinestone Cowboy', and Olivia Douglas (Co Offaly) joins Daniel to perform 'Walk on By' and many more. Derry's David James sings "Neon Moon" as they all celebrate 'Classic Country'.

The second episode of the series on Thursday, November 5 is packed with more stars and special guests, including 'New Country' artists, County Monaghan's Damian Davis, who performs classic hits such as 'Your Loving Eyes', and Co. Cork's Effie Neill, who sings 'Dreaming of You'. Singer Ruairidh Gray from the Island of South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides, will also join the line-up to perform 'Loch Maree'.

In the third programme on Thursday, November 12, Donegal's Margo sings classic hits such as 'A Mother's Prayer', and, direct from the US, Andy Cooney performs 'Rose of Ballinrobe' and other songs. Caitríona Ní Cheannabháin (Co.Galway) will also join to sing 'Peigí Leitir Mór' as they celebrate 'Country n Irish'.

'Country Folk' is the theme of the fourth show on Thursday, November 19. Folk legend Seán Keane (Co. Galway) takes to the stage to sing classic hits such as 'Galway Bay' in memory of his late sister Dolores. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, lead singer with Altan, will also join to sing 'Téir Abhaile Riú', with guest musician Manus Lunny.

The fifth programme on Thursday, November 26 celebrates 'Contemporary Country', as County Tyrone's Donna Taggart takes to the stage to sing hits such as 'Love Will Bring You Home', and Co. Galway's Rachel Goode performs 'Just One Time' and many more songs. Simon Casey (Co. Offaly) will also join the line-up to sing 'I Loved Her First'.

Newry's very own Susan McCann celebrates 50 years in the business in show six of the new series on Thursday, December 3. Susan sings some of her classic songs such as 'Broken Speed of the Sound of Loneliness' and 'A Mother's Love's a Blessing', with some special guests, including Co. Derry's Brendan Quinn and Susan's daughter Linda and granddaughter Sinead.

The series rounds off with two special programmes on Thursday, December 10 and Thursday, December 17, featuring a pick of highlights of some of the performances from across 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.”

Now in its sixteenth season, Ireland’s Number One country music artist Daniel O’Donnell has hosted the biggest names in country music on the world stage, including Charley Pride, Crystal Gayle, and Rita Coolidge, not forgetting many of Ireland’s homegrown talents.

Each programme in the new series will also be available to view after broadcast on the TG4 player.