Die-hard fans danced all day in Ballymore

Organising outdoor events always means anxious checking of the Met Éireann site and every possible weather app in advance of the big day. For the August bank holiday Monday, the indications were that the weather was not going to be good – but few really believed it would prove as wet and miserable as it did.

The crew behind the annual country music festival in Ballymore took some heart from Sunday, when the skies were blue and the sun beamed down on the immaculately prepared festival site – the local GAA field - with everything looking glorious.

Then came Monday, and the heavens opened. The longed-for break in the cloud cover did not appear. "It rained continuously," says Willie Finerty, chair of the event.

Despite that, the event went ahead and people had a great day out. "It went very, very well – and the dancefloor was full all day," he reports. "Despite the rain, the good thing about the day was that it was mild."

Some of those attending had come a long distance: Donegal was well represented at the event, as were Cavan and Monaghan.

The committee had arranged to have a big screen erected so that even those a long way from the stage would get to see the acts – and that proved fortuitous, as those who chose to watch the acts from the shelter of the stands were able to enjoy the music without missing anything.

The acts included a host of big name performers including Derek Ryan and Robert Mizzell but as it happens the breakthrough warm-up acts, Andy Feery and Saddletramp, as well as Longford performer Bríd Shaughnessy, were a big hit with the crowds.

Willie extended thanks to all those who supported the event, to all the performers, and to the many local volunteers who helped in the run-up to the festival, as well as on the day itself, and in the post-festival clean-up.