Opry le Daniel ar Thuras set for TG4 return

Opry le Daniel ar Thuras, TG4 television’s highest-rated country music series, returns with brand-new shows.

The hugely popular series from Big Mountain Productions for TG4 will offer six music-filled shows and a further two compilation programmes, running across eight weeks, starting on Thursday, October 29 at 10.30 pm on TG4

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

The new series includes 'New Opry', featuring Damian Davis (Co. Monaghan), Effie Neill (Co. Cork), and Ruairidh Grey from the Island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides.

'Country ’n Irish' sees Margo (Co. Monaghan), New York-based Andy Cooney, and Caitríona Ní Cheannabháin (Co. Galway) all take to the stage to perform.

The 'Country Folk' programme features folk legend Seán Keane (Co. Galway) and Máiréad Ní Mhaonaigh, Irish fiddler and lead vocalist with Altan, as they pay tribute to the songs of Dolores Keane and Moya Brennan.

'Contemporary Country' sees Donna Taggart (Co. Tyrone), Rachel Goode (Co. Galway), and Simon Casey (Co. Offaly) all join Daniel on stage.

The Susan McCann 50th Celebration provides more rich musical content for the new series, as Daniel celebrates Susan’s 50 years in show business, as she is joined on stage by special guest Brendan Quinn (Co. Derry), as well as her husband Denis, daughter Linda and granddaughter Sinéad Heaney.

'Classic Country' features Michael English (Co. Laois), Olivia Douglas (Co. Offaly), and David James (Derry). The series rounds off with two special programmes 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 16th 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.