Night of Irish country legends

TAKE That’s new musical, will have its Irish premiere at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, in November — and it’s set to be a smash hit with fans.

Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald joined the cast in Cardiff last week when I caught the show, which is the story of boyband fans performed to the hits of Take That. There’s a strong possibility that they’ll fly in for the Irish premiere at the end of the year, if their schedule allows.

Barlow said that Take That will never forget their Croke Park gigs. “Croke Park is on a par with Wembley Stadium for me, and I think Wembley is an amazing one to play,” he told me.

“There are very few places where the view is not of the stage but of the audience, and Croke Park is one of them. That was incredible for us.” IRELAND’S top country stars — in-including Nathan Carter (pictured), Michael English, Derek Ryan, Patrick Feeney, Lisa McHugh, Jimmy Buckley, Declan Nerney and Cliona Hagan, — will perform at the Sunday World All Ireland Country Music & Entertainment Awards on Monday, February 5.

Legendary Irish duo Foster & Allen, Johnny Carrol, Gerry Guthrie, John McNicholl, Barry Kirwan and folk-trad supergroup The Kilkennys are also among the award-winning entertainers on the night in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Co Westmeath, The all-star variety show will also feature former showband legend Tony Kenny, star of Joseph & His Amazing Technicolour DreamcoatDreamcoat.