Music Matters: Joe Cooney

Mullingar Carers Concert 2025

What is your favourite album?

Dire Straits, Sultans Of Swing.

What song do you wish you had written?

Fairytale Of New York.

Which band from any era would you love to have been a member of?

The Highway Men.

What song are you most proud of?

The song I wrote for the Liverpool team of 2019/20 when they lifted the Premiership cup for the first time in 30 years, the song title is King Of The Kop.

Guiltiest musical pleasure?

Listening to Dire Straits.

Most memorable gig you’ve ever been to?

The Eagles when they played in Dublin, and my favourite was Garth Brooks at Croke Park. He signed my guitar and I got to interview him. We sang a verse of one of his songs while he played it on my guitar – the best ever.

Most memorable gig you’ve ever played?

Most memorable gig was when I got to open for Mike Denver – it was amazing.

Biggest musical inspiration?

Willie Nelson inspires me; such a legend

Who is Westmeath’s greatest ever musician?

Joe Dolan, and recently Nial Horan.

If you could only listen to five songs for the rest of your life what would they be?

It’s nearly impossible to answer this, I love so many songs, it would be hard to pick just five. (Pressed to pick five, Joe went with):

Luke Combs, Beautiful Crazy

Dire Straits, Money For Nothing

Willie Nelson, Seven Spanish Angels

Lobo, Me And You And A Dog Named Boo

Neil Diamond, Hello.

Mullingar Carers Concert 2025

The Mullingar Carers Concert, organised for many years by Billy Mac, goes ahead this year with Camillus Egerton and Chris Loughrey at the helm, and a line-up of top quality artists for Tuesday April 8 at the Greville Arms Hotel.

This event raises funds for Family Carers Ireland, in support of their valuable contributions to the community.

The concert in April promises an evening of exceptional entertainment. Doors open at 7,15pm and the show starts at 7.45pm. Staring on the night are (in no particular order) Simon Casey, TR Dallas, Chris Loughrey, Dave Lawlor, Matt Leavy, Ciarán Rosney, The Rosneys, Camillus Egerton and Heads Up, Joe Connaire, Michaela Hogg, Joe Cooney. The night will also feature The Tennessee Breakdown Band; and John Corroon will be the MC.

Tickets are €20 and are on sale at: The Greville Arms Hotel; and Family Carers Ireland, 2 Castle Street, Mullingar, phone: 044 934 7922.