The Late Late Country Special celebrates its tenth anniversary tonight on RTÉ One and to mark the occasion we've rounded up some highlights of the first decade of an Irish TV institution
It may not have the sugar rush of the Toy Show or the anarchy of the Valentine’s night special but the Late Late Show’s Country Special has become a red letter day in the Irish country music calendar.
Tonight, it celebrates its tenth anniversary with a bit of a bonanza, with guests including Priscilla Presley, whose late husband was the ultimate country boy, confirmed Hibernophile John C Reilly, and a pantheon of Irish country favourites such as Daniel O’Donnell, Philomena Begley, Nathan Carter, Mike Denver, Sandy Kelly, and Susan McCann.
This isn’t host Patrick Kielty’s first rodeo. He grew up around Irish country music - his late father, Jack, ran dancehall nights in his hometown of Dundrum, Co Down and further afield.
Jack also promoted musicians such as Philomena Begley and the young Patrick could often be found backstage at country gigs. In fact, he has said Irish country music was the "soundtrack of my childhood".
Patrick, who will no doubt be raiding the dress-up box for tonight’s hoedown, will corral proceedings, which will feature plenty of live music, interviews and surprise collaborations.
Music snobs may roll their eyes and country purists may claim that Irish Country isn’t the real thing. Try telling that to Sandy Kelly or Daniel O’Donnell.
Because Ireland’s long love affair with country is etched in the dirt and shouldn’t be ignored or laughed off. After all, we helped invent it.
Earlier this year, relative newcomer Zach Bryan sold put three shows in the Phoenix Park and let’s not forget that Garth Brooks' dreams finally came true when he performed over five nights in Croker Park back in 2022.
Homegrown stars like Daniel O’Donnell have been packing them in for decades and every year new faces and voices go country. It's a music style you cannot keep down.
And in another sign of Irish Country Music's staying power, tonight’s Late Late Show Country Music Special will also see the return of the annual induction of an Irish country star into The Late Late Show Country Music Hall of Fame.
Whoever it is will join previous inductees Big Tom (2016), Daniel O'Donnell (2019), Philomena Begley (2020), Margo (2023), Declan Nerney (2023), and Susan McCann (2024).
Seems like we'll be keeping it country for a while yet.
Late Late Country SpecialRTÉ One, RTÉ Player, tonight, 9.35pm
Here's some top moments from the first ten years of Late Late Show Country Music Special
A Dolly Parton medley that blew the roof off Studio 4
Back in 2020, Una Healy, the one time member of The Saturdays who has returned to her country roots, joined forces with Cliona Hagan and Claudia Buckley for a showstopping Dolly Parton medley. Dressed to shimmer, the trio belted out Dolly classics I Will Always Love You, Jolene, and 9 to 5. Pretty, pretty good.
Daniel leads a tribute to The King
The king of Irish country music Daniel O'Donnell led a tribute to the other King when he got together with Cliona Hagan and co to sing Burning Love.
Dire Straits get the Late Late treatment
Walk of Life by Dire Straits got The Late Late Country treatment in 2019 with a host of country stars and over 100 jivers dancing their way through the studio. Once around the backlot and mind the dresser!
Taylor Meets Beyoncé
Proof that country music can go pretty much anywhere came with this Taylor Swift (she used to be a country star, you know?) mash up with Beyoncé (she used to be an RnB star, you know?).
Irish country stars pay tribute to Big Tom
An ensemble of country music stars closed the 2018 Late Late Show Country Music Special with a special medley of Big Tom favourites.
and of course Patrick had to get in on the act . . .
