Tubridy praises Mullingar "welcome" and family traders

"We love coming back to Mullingar, we always get this great welcome, I nearly have a regular room now in Mullingar so that's nice!"

Ryan Tubridy was speaking following his RTÉ Radio 1 show which was broadcast live outside the historic Greville Arms Hotel this morning, Tuesday.

The Late Late Show host talked to Westmeath GAA star Boidu Sayeh and his adopted mom Therese Kinahen who told Ryan about their journey from leaving war torn Monrovia for Rosemount in Moate. The show also featured Margo and Nathan Carter ahead of auditions for the upcoming Late Late Country Show.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Ryan who has previously broadcast from Mullingar on two other occasions, including last year's audtions for the Late Late Toy Show, said:

"I like to stay in the town, I don't like to be in the satellite, on the outskirts like those big shops, I like the soul."

And praised the importance of local family businesses saying it was important to encourage them.

"All those family businesses that you see, it's important to be encouraging and when you come to towns around the country, and Mullingar is a good example of it, they need to be kept alive and kept going and that's why we're here in the heart of the town to encourage that."

"Mullingar has it in the water"

"Last time we got to see Belvedere House, and we got to see some of the history of the place. We went to Oscars for dinner and Canton Casey's for a pint, I mean we had some serious research to do in the food and drink department as you'll appreciate," he laughed.

"And then there's the museum there in the Greville Arms, and now we get know and meet people again, like yourself, when we come down so we've had a lovely welcome here."

Speaking of the regularly featured Mullingar bands on the Late Late Show including The Academic, The Blizzards, Fallen Lights, and Niall Horan, Ryan said:

"Mullingar is, and I'm not joking you - you know this, Mullingar is a musical hub in Ireland. All the acts you've listed, that's not to be scoffed at.

"Obviously we've got the godfather of them all beside us, Joe (Dolan), but the other acts, young acts and that's what we're doing here today is looking for the future of country music in Ireland and for some reason Mullingar has it in the water."