The Kids Keepin 'er Country

In Ireland, country music is more popular than ever.

A host of new country music stars have tempted a generation

to turn their back on the nightclub,

don their Stetsons and jive the night away -

from Ballymena to Ballydehob.

This week, we're getting down with the kids.

Here we go.

..as we meet the young 'uns who are being brought up country.

I've always been into country music since I was a little girl.

From junior jivers hitting the floor...

There's going to be many years for jiving.

..to schoolboy stars taking the stage.

I would sometimes practise my signature at home.

Getting your size-five foot in the door

of Ireland's biggest music craze isn't always as easy as A-B-C.

Do it again. Her head's all leaning forward, Lisa. She's not relaxed.

They may have a lot to learn...

Wait, sorry, I messed up there on the chorus.

..but if they get it right...

And he was getting paid for it at 13 and gets away with it.

..the rewards could mean some serious pocket money.

I know I'm not supposed to say this, but you could get rich.

Welcome to the growing world of Irish country music.

Not so long ago, it wasn't cool to be country.

But with dozens of young pin-up stars on the scene...

# Singin' good-time girls... #

..and a huge following driven by social media...

..the music is back in the mainstream.

And the fans are getting younger and younger.

Six-year-old Cora from Sligo and best friend Maeve

are obsessed with country music.

-Maeve.

-Yeah?

-Do you want to see all my pictures?

-OK.

-So, this is me and that's Patrick Feeney.

This is me and Mummy and Declan Nerney.

This is me and Mummy looking at Nathan Carter.

-I went to see all them. Did you, Maeve?

-Yeah.

Is there singers that you like?

-And we can put on their CD if you want.

-Well, I like all of them.

Do you want to put on Patrick Feeney?

-OK.

-Now we'll put on Patrick Feeney.

MUSIC: A Place In The Choir by Patrick Feeney

Cora's mum Aoife has had to look on

as her daughter becomes a country music super-fan.

Country music has really come into our household this year

and it just has taken over everything with a bang.

Even at the age of six,

Cora is on first-name terms with some of the biggest country stars.

We do go to a lot of the concerts and, you know,

you always get the meet and greet with the stars after.

For her even to get messages and stuff from them,

she just thinks, "This is amazing," you know?

'Hi, Cora. It's Derek here and a little birdie tells me

'it's your birthday today, so happy birthday.

'Keep dancing and hold on to your hats. I'll see you soon.'

So taken are the girls with the music that they're among 30 kids

from Sligo and Leitrim signed up for Jiving Juniors camp.

'Cora is all business about the Jiving Juniors,

'but I'm delighted that she's so into it, because I enjoy it myself,

'absolutely love it.'

That's really good.

And I would much rather see her out jiving than twerking any day.

But if the girls are going to learn to dance properly,

they'll need partners for their jiving lessons.

Are you going to bring them cows into the milking parlour now?

I'm taking them.

Not too far away, there's some men up for the job -

farming cousins Oisin and Jack.

I like jiving.

You dance with girls and...

..you just... You just have fun.

These shoes are really good for jiving,

because they're good for getting a grip on the floor,

so you don't slip and they're good for turns and swings and stuff.

You don't slip.

There we go.

The boys already have the tools of the jiving trade.

This week's jiving camp will be a chance for them to practise

with other young fans of country music.

I'm looking forward to dancing with Maeve tomorrow for practice

and if she doesn't turn up at the dance, I'll to dance with Jack.

And that would look weird.

-Another one.

-No, another one.

OK, OK, OK.

Very weird.

Some kids aren't content just dancing to the music.

They want to MAKE the music.

I just really love country music,

because the songs, sort of, tell a better story than pop.

I wasn't really interested in the, sort of, other genres of music,

but country really touched my heart.

# So when you see your mother... #

13-year-old Owen Mac from Coleraine

has his sights set on country music stardom,

and mum Michelle is behind him all the way.

I definitely think he will make it as a career.

I don't know whether he'll ever be as big as Nathan or anything,

but I think he hopes to be.

# We all set out

# To find true love... #

And it hasn't been a bad start.

Owen got his first taste of fame

when he sang live on Hugo Duncan's radio show.

I've really been singing ever since I was a young...

Well, I AM a young age, but, like, a younger age.

And there's so many children nowadays who like country.

# It was all a part of God's plan... #

And after his appearance with Uncle Hugo, Owen's popularity skyrocketed.

They uploaded it, actually, themselves to their Facebook page

and it got something like... I think it was 250,000 views.

You know, he just puts me in mind of myself years ago.

But that was only the beginning.

# Since I've grown from boy to man... #

Michelle so believed in her son's talent

that she took matters into her own hands.

There was one night I took a wee home video.

It actually wasn't supposed to go public,

but, as an afterthought, I privately sent it to Jimmy Buckley. And Jimmy,

he got back, "Do you mind if I put it on my Facebook page?"

# When this world is... #

But any aspiring country star

wouldn't appear on Facebook in his pyjamas,

and Owen wasn't best pleased.

Of course, she went behind my back

and she posted it to Jimmy after me saying not to,

because I was like a wreck. I was just after coming out of the bath.

But sometimes Mum does know best.

I have to thank her, because it went viral.

It's got, I think, 2.2 million hits, which is amazing.

2.5 million.

All right, sorry, Mummy.

But while Mum has the marketing savvy,

Owen gets his musicality from his dad, Dessie.

We're just an ordinary family who just... We love country music.

Michelle loves it, I love it, Shauna and Shannon -

we all love country music.

# Cos I'm so glad to have her... #

I picked up songs from my mummy.

I've got brothers and sisters and they would all sing

and I think Owen has just picked up the genes,

but he's taken it to a different level.

It's just a pity there was no social media around when dad Dessie

was in his prime.

A bit envious sometimes at him,

because I've been trying for years and can't master that,

but he's a good wee character and, as I say,

if there's something he doesn't like,

or there's something that he feels is not right, he can come to us,

but we basically want him to be happy.

# Cos it blowed away

# It blowed away... #

Having a potential superstar in the house is a strange feeling

for Owen's younger sister Shannon.

It's a bit odd and it's a bit weird.

Like, I didn't even know he could sing and now he's just, like...

..famous on Facebook.

MUSIC: Fais Do Do by Alanna Gallagher

For this social media generation,

their influence has come from the early days

of Irish country and western.

My grandad was a massive fan of Philomena Begley

and I grew up to be, too. Like, she's my idol - I love her.

I did Fais Do Do and it was just great.

I was like, "I'm singing a Philomena Begley song!"

But even Philomena in her heyday didn't have access to the kinds

of technology that 13-year-old Alanna Gallagher has -

all thanks to dad Paul's day job.

I film weddings for a living.

Having to jump into this music video thing,

it gave me a chance to play with my wee toys,

cos you know what us boys and our toys are like, so I say,

"Oh, you know, I'd need to buy a new lens for this."

Then, Alanna reaps the rewards,

because we can make something visually and appealing

for everybody to hear through YouTube.

Alanna's videos, with their high production values,

have proven hugely popular on social media

and the family are preparing for her biggest shoot yet.

This new one we're doing,

we just want the music video to keep Alanna in her own comfortable

surroundings, which is, she is a wee country girl at heart.

Hopefully, it'll all go to plan.

Alanna's hoping that this new video

will help propel her to untold fame and riches.

I would like to become famous,

because more people know you, you've got your own fan group and, like,

I know I'm not supposed to say this, but you could get rich.

You don't have to be rich to sign up for jiving camp in Sligo.

Laura, how are you?

And 30 eager young dancers are looking forward

to learning some new moves -

including six-year-old Cora.

I don't really know how to do the girl part,

because I was boy a few times and...

When you hear a beat you can, like, jive to it and it's fun.

Despite their age, some kids already know their stuff -

like 11-year-old Gerard.

If you wear, like, runners, they don't look right with the outfit,

so you had to wear, like, a fancy shoe and it's better to wear

a fancy shoe, because then it'll be easier to move round the floor

and in runners, you'd just be hopping there.

And now, it's time for the boys to meet the girls.

These are 16 euro.

Best friends Cora and Maeve

are partnered with cousins Oisin and Jack.

First, we were dancing, then we were, kind of, talking

and then I, kind of, got to know him and then,

we started dancing again and I got to know him.

My partner is Maeve.

She's a good dancer and fast to dance with.

Just good to dance with.

At the end of the week,

they'll have to showcase their dancing skills at

a country barn dance, so it's important they master the moves.

-Yes!

-I've got it.

-We finally...

Most of the kids have been brought up in the country tradition,

but not everyone.

And when I'm their age, I'll be professional.

Nine-year-old Madeline has just moved from Cheshire with her family

and she's been partnered with country aficionado Gerard.

It's very different coming from England to Ireland,

because in England, it's more classical and waltz,

cos that's really the only dance you can do to it,

because it's very...mostly slow.

Madeline is keen to learn as much as she can.

What would you say is the coolest country star?

Well...Derek Ryan, Nathan Carter.

They're the two tops.

Owen Mac has hopes of becoming the next Nathan or Derek -

and it all starts with his debut album.

It is my first day in the recording studio and it's going to be quite

nerve-racking, but, yeah, I'll get through it.

But a professional recording studio

is a step up from mum's YouTube videos.

# So I set my sight

# On a life back home in Ireland

# Where the streets of promise drew me in. #

Oh, wait. Sorry, I messed up there on the chorus.

-Yeah. Sung a different word, did you?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Take the start of that chorus again, OK?

Despite his nervous start,

engineer Paul is impressed with Owen's talent.

# On a life in... #

Sounded good.

Most kids of that age, the pitching and the timing might be suspect

and it would be the biggest problem you'd have with them.

But it's very natural for him, you know? Very natural.

'# So I set my... #'

# So I set ... Maybe it should be...

# So I've set. #

'# So I've set. #'

# So I've set. #

-It's much nicer, I think, you know?

-Yeah.

I think he's getting known as The Baby of Country Music.

On the social media, I'm reading wee bits and pieces, you know?

And I think that's what he's being known as.

Mum and Dad are making huge sacrifices

for their baby of country music.

# It took me time to realise... #

Yeah, we're making a lot of sacrifices, to be honest.

I suppose we could have been on a lovely holiday and changed the car,

but the money's going into Owen this year, anyway,

and, hopefully, it'll pay off in the long run, you know.

# So I set my sights

# On a life... #

But Owen hopes to repay this faith in him.

I think it sounds great.

I do hope to make it big in the music scene.

Obviously, my sisters aren't too happy about no holiday this year,

but hopefully, if I get enough money from the album,

I'll be able to take them somewhere nice.

# You're crazy and I'm out of my mind... #

In Tyrone, the Gallaghers are assembled for a production meeting

ahead of the big video shoot.

-So we want water, so water's a plus.

-I would like water in it, yeah.

And, as well as being the star,

Alanna seems to be the director, too.

I like a wee bit of wind, but I didn't like as much wind as that.

It's kind of...crazy, wasn't it?

-Please God, we'll not have wind.

-We want a bit of it.

-We like slight breeze.

-Slight breeze?

Dad Paul is well used to Alanna's demands,

and he knows just how lucky they are to have stunning locations

right on their doorstep.

I live out in the country myself

and you can go out for a walk, you can head off on your bicycle,

and anywhere you go, the scenery's beautiful,

so we just want the music video to keep Alanna in her own comfortable

surroundings, which is, she is a wee country girl at heart.

Hopefully, it'll all go to plan.

-There, Alanna. Isn't that brilliant?

-That's amazing.

With the location high up in the Tyrone hills,

Alanna's hope of a good hair day might be in jeopardy.

I think the location for the music video's class,

but the only issue is I asked Daddy for a slight bit of a breeze,

but I take that back now - I don't want any.

Look at that lake and this here. Look at that there.

Look at the colours on that. Isn't that lovely?

-Wee cutaway to that, look.

-Yeah, you love your cutaways, don't you?

Really, really do.

The song's first-class, the location's first-class,

so it's just down to me to deliver the video, so...

-No pressure.

-No pressure, no.

In Sligo, nine-year-old Madeline

is one of 30 under-12s learning to jive.

She's just moved from Cheshire with her family and she's still getting

her head around Ireland's obsession with country music.

It gets very awkward when you say, like, "Who's that singer?"

They look at you as if you're mad, cos everybody knows

almost every country singer and they're just like,

"You don't know?" "Well, no, I don't exactly know."

"Well, he's so and so, the one who does that song."

"What's that song? I still don't know who on earth he or she is."

They'll say, "Well, that's a person who went, you know,

"down in Dublin, did a show there."

I said, "No, no, still not getting it."

She may not have all the knowledge,

but Madeline seems to be mastering the basics of country jive,

thanks to partner Gerard.

My favourite singer, as I told you, is... My first favourite is Derek,

then Patrick and then Nathan.

She loves learning, cos I know straightaway

that she knows everything since Monday

and she's nearly as good as me now.

So, that's...

She's really good at jiving, so.

And it's just as well, because all 30 kids will have to showcase their

new moves at the end of the week with a massive country music dance.

There's 150 people going to turn up and I'm wearing a chequered shirt

with, like... It's a little top.

That's him there, so he's one of the big country singers.

When the kids take to the floor on the final night,

jive teacher Sandra want them to be knowledgeable

in all aspects of country music.

Derek Ryan, Nathan Carter, Jimmy Buckley,

Michael English and...

Declan Nerney.

-Well, you seem to know your stuff anyway.

-Patrick Feeney!

Yeah? Do you know him?

Daniel O'Donnell.

-Jimmy Buckrey.

-Buckley.

With all this interest in the stars of country, teacher Sandra might

have a tough time getting these kids back dancing.

-Girls, who are you watching?

-Derek Ryan.

-Is it good?

-Yes.

-Do you like Derek?

-Yeah.

We're watching this till go-home time.

You're watching till go-home time?

OK, well, good job it's a big long DVD,

so you keep watching that, so, until go-home time.

# That's why I call her every day

# If I'm near or far away

# For I know some day... #

13-year-old Owen Mac from Coleraine is still working hard

on his debut album.

For the past year, he's been on the road performing live,

to help fund the recording sessions.

Some day, you might have a studio of your own.

To record an album is not cheap and Owen was doing wee gigs

here and there and he was getting paid for it,

believe it or not, at 13,

and gets away with it from the taxman, as well.

Which is a good thing!

Every penny counts and, tonight,

Owen will be putting some euros towards the album,

as he makes a guest appearance in Monaghan.

I really love these shoes, because they were my first pair of shoes

that I went on stage with.

So, I'm not looking forward to running out of the size.

But, hopefully, I can stay in them as long as I can.

As well as an appearance fee,

Owen makes extra money selling his home-made singles.

Dad Dessie is in charge of the merchandise.

Owen would display his CDs out there and then he would stand behind

the table with a pen and, if anybody wants a wee CD,

they can just get it autographed and he's just like an old pro.

I'm standing back there thinking, "Well, that's our wee boy.

Basically like a star." You know?

He may be the teenage version of Nathan Carter,

about to take the stage in Castleblaney

in front of a big crowd, but he's still his mother's son.

Mum!

Owen doesn't like me doing that.

Here's a sensation. Would you please put your hands together

for the young fella himself, Mr Owen Mac!

Give him a big round of applause.

If you haven't seen him, check out social media.

# My Oklahoma home, it blowed away

# It looked so big and fair

# When I built my shanty there

# But my Oklahoma home It blowed away... #

I just love singing to everyone and

it makes me feel really happy when they show

that they enjoyed every song,

so I suppose it's almost as if it's just me, sort of, like,

communicating with the crowd.

# We planted wheat and oats

# Got some chickens and some... #

-The single, which is You And Me And Time, that's the duet.

-Perfect.

As Owen entertains onstage,

dad Dessie is out in the car park flogging his old CDs,

because Owen's new album won't fund itself.

# When this world It seems unfair... #

As Owen performs his viral YouTube hit,

he has the mostly female audience in the palm of his hand.

And no-one is more moved by it than his own mum Michelle.

SONG FINISHES

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Very proud of you.

Ladies and gentlemen...

My Mother song -

I just feel like I have to go up and give him a wee kiss on stage.

I'm not a stage person, but just that song,

I just think it deserves a wee kiss.

Mum isn't the only one impressed with Owen.

Post-gig, he's meeting and greeting his fans.

Sometimes people would come up to me and asked me for a little comment

on the CD just to say

to the person's name and then from Owen Mac and then my signature.

And, to perfect his technique, Owen's done his homework.

I would sometimes practise my signature at home

just to get it right, yeah.

Having thousands of dedicated fans is something Tyrone singer Alanna

is hoping her new video will deliver.

This could be really, really big for you, Alanna.

Like Nathan Carter's Wagon Wheel?

-Would you like your video to get views like that?

-Yeah.

Alanna's parents film weddings for a living and the benefit of

having Mum and Dad as a bespoke video production team

isn't lost on her.

I'm just realising just how lucky I am

to have you and Daddy make music videos from me,

because other people have to pay so much money to get it done.

-Yeah.

-And even then, no offence to some people,

but, like, mine's better.

Alanna might not be paying for it...

This is the lens. That'll cover nearly every scenario, that.

..but Dad Paul has bought new gear especially for the shoot.

And with so much expensive equipment,

it's important to handle it with care.

-CLATTERING

-Oh, God!

Trust me! Nothing happened.

Nothing broke!

Paul's having a nervous breakdown with me dropping something!

Working with your family can sometimes be more stressful

than the weddings of strangers.

Do it again. Her head's all leaning forward, Lisa. She's not relaxed.

Need her shoulders back and her head up. Go again, Alanna.

Now, shake it out.

We decided to use walking along paths as sort of a metaphor

for the song, because I don't think they literally mean

walking along a path, but we're going to do it that way.

Brilliant.

After a long five-hour shoot, they're on their last shot.

Oh, you're on a roll now, Alanna.

The day went well.

I hope we got all the shots. We'll see when it's edited, anyway!

Thank you.

As Alanna waits on her final product...

Oh, my word.

I can't believe I'm holding my own CD.

..Owen's debut album has just been delivered to his home in Coleraine.

Say, "Thank you, Mum."

The feeling that you get when your face is on an album

is just unbelievable, and I'm so happy.

-Well done, pet.

-It's unreal.

-Good boy.

-Well done, wee man, well done.

You've come a long way from the wee video.

-Yeah.

-We haven't even heard the CD yet, come on!

The album might look the part.

The real test is in how it sounds.

Come on, Owen.

MUSIC: Streets Of Promise by Owen Mac

What about me?

I'm very, very proud of him.

It's actually unreal, you know, how far he's come in such a short time.

MUSIC CONTINUES

Yeah, Mummy and Daddy have honestly been, like, the most supportive.

They've put in everything to make this album possible

and I can't thank them enough.

As Owen and his parents jive the night away to his new album,

in Sligo, the Jiving Juniors are preparing to show off

their new moves, dancing to Stuart Moyles playing live.

They're a bit hesitant at first,

but it doesn't take them long to fill the floor.

And a solid week of jiving practice is really showing in their dancing.

-We've been at jiving.

-Yeah.

That's what we've been at.

Yeah, that's what we've been at, jiving.

And Madeline has become a country convert.

I really like the country music,

and jiving is such a thing which is done everywhere,

so it's good to know, so I think I really am going to keep jiving.

The plan for the rest of the night is to keep dancing,

because I'm having a great time.

I'm going to keep jiving, cos I love the jiving.

But it's not just the Jiving Juniors who are enjoying the music.

Mums Aoife and Vera are converts, too.

I dare anyone to sit there on their bum for the night

and not want to get up and not tap their foot.

-Not move.

-Not move...

-No, no.

-..for the night. It's infectious.

And it seems like the kids have caught the country music bug.

There's going to be many years for jiving.

With a generation of new jivers on the floor,

Owen Mac's new album hitting the shelves

and Alanna's latest video racking up hundreds of thousands

of YouTube hits...

# It's all part of a grander plan... #

..the future of country music in Ireland is looking bright.

# And every long-lost dream

# Led me to where you are

# Others who broke my heart

# They were like northern stars

# Pointing me on my way

# Into your loving arms

# This much I know is true

# That God blessed the broken road

# That led me straight to you. #