Cowboys and Heroes Keepin 'er Country

In rural Ireland, country music has never been so popular.

A host of new country 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 circle our wagons

at a festival that showcases two types of music -

country AND western.

Only in its second year,

Cowboys & Heroes has rounded up the most wanted acts on the scene

for the biggest Wild West hoedown this side of Texas.

He wants to lock it hard left there.

Festival manager Simon is hoping to claim a country music bounty,

but with other events shooting it out for punters,

will the crowds roll up,

or will the infamous Irish weather

leave the festival site looking more like a one-horse town?

Why didn't you stop it raining?

Welcome to the surprising world of Irish country music.

Over the past 15 years, Ireland has built a formidable

reputation as home to some of the best music festivals in Europe.

Events like Electric Picnic, Longitude

and Oxegen have entertained hundreds of thousands of music lovers,

but now there's a new festival in town.

MUSIC: I Want To Be A Country Boy by Big Tom

# Everybody says that I could be a big star in a couple of years... #

Drumcoura City just outside Ballinamore in County Leitrim is

a Western-style horse ranch all year round.

It may be in the north-west of Ireland but, to the people who

drift into town, it's more like the Wild West.

Let me show you how I caught my good wife.

WOMAN SCREAMS

The sheriff in these parts is Rodeo Ron, who,

over the last 15 years,

has built a little part of the American Frontier

in the most rural county in Ireland.

We built a great place here, Drumcoura City.

Everything is Western here.

The saloon is Western, all the stables are Western.

We have all the tack we brought in from the States.

Ron's deputy is stepson Simon, whose idea it was for a festival

aimed squarely at the country music fan.

He felt the family ranch was an ideal setting to

make his country festival dream a reality.

This is where all the main action happens.

The main stage is over here,

and the music comes right the way through, over across the yard.

This way, acoustically,

the music just kind of floods out over the yard itself.

The venue is western country themed.

We have live country music all the time.

When I saw one in ten people in the country booked Garth Brooks

tickets, I thought to myself,

"That's got potential to have a festival,"

because there is no true festival, in the traditional sense,

in the sense of, like, Oxegen or Electric Picnic,

country music doesn't have that kind of event.

# Just going to be a country boy... #

With over 80,000 euros invested,

Simon is hoping the country music loving public turn out in force.

There's a lot at stake.

It's a very, very expensive thing to put on, an event like this,

so I'm just really, really hopeful that it's going to be a big

success this year, we're going to have the numbers.

We've got a roof over our heads so it's not weather dependent,

but it makes such a difference when the sun's out as well.

On a day like today, there's no better place to be.

Drumcoura's so beautiful, you know?

# Just want to be a country boy, that's all. #

One man who'd agree with Simon that there is no better place than

Drumcoura is stable worker Paul Duffy.

He blazed his own trail to the ranch.

Nine months ago he quit

his job as a truck driver, donned a Stetson and bought himself a horse.

This is Dollar and Spirit.

Myself and Dollar are together now...

about five months together now.

Dollar took the place of a woman, you know,

so that makes her very special.

INTERVIEWER: What would you prefer, the woman or the horse?

Oh, definitely the horse.

Less complicated.

Jack is very horny today. He sees a piece of ass, he wants it.

All right, Jack.

JACK WHINNIES

Paul moved to Drumcoura for a different way of life.

He now works and lives in the stables, with 16 western horses.

The attraction is I love the Wild West part of it, I love the horses,

I love the people here,

and all I can say is that I'm living the dream.

This is the room where I live.

This is a very special room to me,

because I have all my things that I love here.

You see the pictures of all the Indians I have.

I used to have all them hanging in my truck.

The day that I met Simon in Kilbeggan,

I actually bought this in Kilbeggan that day.

You know, so...

What do you think?

When I was little and growing up and playing games,

the only thing I ever played was cowboys and Indians.

It was the only game I ever knew how to play.

Where we lived, we had a tree down the end of our garden,

and the branches used to come out like that, and it went up

and went over, and I used to make that my horse. That was my horse.

Paul is single and loves to jive.

The festival will be a chance for him to hit the dancefloor

with some of the thousands of women expected to attend.

I wear this to the pub, when I'm going out to the pub,

I wear it when I'm going dancing.

Not that I could... I could have one dance in it.

I enjoy one dance with the jacket on,

but after that it gets a bit too hot.

# Tell me, darling, is there someone else sharing all my love? #

Though he still has hopes of finding true love,

right now there is only one filly in his life.

Yeah. I'll give you your hay.

'Now, Dollar's a very special horse.

'I fell in love with Dollar the first day I ever seen her.'

The tail reminds me of a woman I was going out with in Longford.

She had long hair. I used to brush her hair, you know.

I'm getting a better reaction

from Dollar than I used to get from her, you know!

I think Dollar prefers me brushing her tail.

MUSIC: The Craic by Johnny Brady

# Going out for the craic Guitar on my back

# Gonna sing and dance all night

# And we ain't gonna finish till we drink all the Guinness

# And almost all the Coors Light... #

In Kildress, County Tyrone,

Orla and her friends are looking forward to a weekend of dancing

at the festival, and, like Paul, they also have a love of horses.

I have horses.

Most of us, actually, are into the horses,

so we would show jump them and compete them, and I've had horses

from... We were about five, had our very first horse, so...

No, horses are a big, big thing for me, and if a man doesn't like

a horse, well, then it's a no-go. Absolutely not.

Tonight's girls' night out is a barn dance in Dungiven.

It's all the young ones are going to the country dances now.

Yeah, it's got so big.

Don't even need to go to the nightclubs any more.

Country music is more social, definitely.

Country music, more relaxed.

You don't really need to drink a lot in order to interact with people.

People are quite... more forward because if they see

that you can dance, they don't mind just going round talking to you.

-Not even that but the boys are more friendly.

-Yeah.

See when we go to a nightclub now, after it, oh, my God,

the boys would shove you, shove you into the bar and everything,

whereas boys step out of the way for you.

27-year-old Cliona is an aspiring singer with her sights

set on country music stardom.

She's been given a Sunday afternoon slot at the festival,

and the performance could be her big break onto the circuit.

The first single coming out is called

We're All Gonna Die Someday.

It's just a fun wee...wee song, aye.

Good to dance to, of course, as well.

MUSIC: We're All Gonna Die Someday by Cliona

# We're all gonna die someday, Lord

# We are all gonna die someday

# Mamma's on pills Daddy's over the hill

# We are all gonna die someday. #

Nothing's guaranteed,

and it's just trying to get your foot in through the door, I suppose.

Cos there's not really that many girls out... You know,

with the country singing, it's predominantly males, yeah.

# Come down the mountain, Katie Daly

# Down from the mountain

# Come down from the mountain, Katie, do

# Down from the mountain

# Oh, can't you hear us calling, Katie Daly?

# We want to drink your Irish mountain dew

# Her old man, Katie, came from Tipperary

# In the pioneering year of '42

# Her old man, he was shot in Tombstone City

# For the making of the Irish mountain dew... #

Barn dances like tonight's in Dungiven are proof of just

how popular the music has become.

For a generation of rural young people,

country music is the new clubbing.

# We wan to drink your Irish mountain dew. #

In a different kind of barn, young farmer Jimmy knows why

the music has such appeal in rural communities.

This country music, it's more our...our thing.

It's right in line with what we're thinking, like.

You know, a song about a tractor,

or a farmer's wife or a farmer's daughter, it's sort of...

we've all something in common that way.

You know, we can relate to it.

This here's not a glamorous job. It's not nice.

I'd rather be out dancing with the women or having craic with

the fellas than standing here.

The sooner you get right up, get away, the better, sort of thing.

Jimmy and his farming mates will be earning their spurs

at Cowboys & Heroes, their first festival experience.

Supposed to be camping. We've never camped in our lives,

so I don't know what it's going to end up like.

It's a bit of fun, like.

Never built a tent or nothing in our lives either.

There's a fancy dress competition as well.

We're going to try, have a wee go at it as well.

Try a bit of dancing if we can, like.

Wouldn't be the best at the dancing, but we'll try our best.

COW MOOS

MUSIC: Ireland's Turning Country by Jim Devine

# Oh, Ireland's turning country

# That's the word out on the street

# And everywhere you go

# Toes are tapping to the beat... #

With only a week to go until sun-up on the festival,

preparations are well under way.

I'm going to take the end of the reins in my left hand,

take my right hand here, and we're going to go out to the arena,

and show you some things with country and western music.

Walk on, Monty.

Ron is responsible for the festival's western horse show,

which features some line-dancing horses...obviously!

# Oh, Ireland's turning country

# Everywhere you go

# From Cork right up to Donegal

# From Dublin to Mayo... #

With the dancing horses learning the routine,

Simon is in the office, and it's high noon for the festival finance.

I have so much left to cover. I think there's 70,000 euros to go

through between now and the 19th of July,

and obviously ticket sales aren't where we want them to be,

so we need to do a massive push. One week to go.

You know, we really, really need a lot more sales.

I think we're at 1,200 and we need to be at 2,000,

so we're miles and miles off.

So it could end up being a very expensive weekend

if we don't sort it out somehow.

'We started so strong.'

Like, the first couple of weeks we had a few hundred tickets,

I think 250 tickets,

and I thought we were very much on the pig's back at that stage.

But things have really slowed down in terms of ticket sales.

We're getting sales of five here, six there in each day,

but our break-even point is 1,800, and we're a week out, so,

yeah, I'm really feeling the pressure at the moment.

HORN BLASTS

Some of those who have bought tickets are the Kennedys,

a trucking family from Kildare.

We fell out this morning to start off with!

INDISTINCT

-Who are you going to see?

-Nathan Carter.

-Do you like him?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-What song do you like?

-Wagon Wheel.

Who are you going to see, Jake?

-I don't now.

-Anybody?

Cowboys & Heroes isn't just about the music,

it's a celebration of Americana, and includes a vintage car show.

The Kennedys will be driving their imported American trucks

to show at the festival.

Well, we were always into trucks,

so I'm sure these ones are like the big boys' toys.

So it's like lads

into helicopters and boats, and we're just into big American trucks.

-This weekend's supposed to be great, though, Jimmy, you know?

-Yeah.

Cowboys and horses and horse riding and bull riding and shooting.

For someone who lives and breathes the American Dream,

Jimmy has never actually been.

No, I've never been to America. I've this fear of flying.

Every year I say, "I'll go this year," but something changes.

Someday I reckon I'll get there by flying even.

I want to go do that Route 66.

HORN BLASTS

# If you ever plan to motor west... #

It may not be Route 66 but, after a few hours on the M4,

the Kennedys will arrive in a little corner of America.

# Get your kicks on Route 66. #

America's some place, you know what I mean?

So they reckon Leitrim is like America for the weekend, you know?

HORN BLASTS

Having left a sunny Kildare,

the Kennedys arrive at a waterlogged Cowboys & Heroes.

Rain like this threatens to keep potential customers away.

With torrential downpours throughout the day,

Simon's got his work cut out, frantically organising

the camping fields and getting the festival under way.

We're missing generators.

I've got fencing that hasn't come down yet,

and I've got a crazy amount to get done.

-How much more space for camper vans?

-Maybe ten more.

He doesn't want to pay the 20 euros for the field.

How are you getting on, sir?

This is an absolute disaster.

It's a quagmire down here.

He wants to lock it hard left there.

He's stuck again. He's going to have to go back again.

We don't need to be splitting channels. It doesn't make sense.

I want to know if something happens.

This morning's been torrential rain. Really, really bad.

The field, parking's just a no-no in the back.

I'm trying to get everyone

to take park and ride, but people are going to turn up.

It's only the start of things.

But despite his best efforts, some punters still aren't happy.

-I can't do anything about the weather.

-No, I know that.

I sincerely apologise that you guys aren't happy,

but I gave you three different camping options.

It was crazy to go in that field. It's not a driving field.

They're all waterlogged up there, too, so.

Is there any way of getting a tractor to pull us out or something?

We're all soaked - clothes, sleeping bags, the lot.

I can't do anything about the rain.

I offered him three different parking spaces,

and he drove his car into a field that was just not to be driven into.

So...and now he wants to be towed out, and he wants to go.

With people choosing to stay at home,

and some of those who have arrived turning back,

Simon's hopes of reaching his target to break even are being washed away.

It's going to be a manic day. Very, very manic day.

Oh, no!

Cliona and the girls have arrived for the first day of the festival.

That is not glamping!

They've dressed for the weather.

Pity THAT weather hasn't turned up.

Oh, my God, girls. I had to wear all white! What was I thinking?

Glamorous!

Cliona, I hope you brought your guitar with you.

There's the campfire.

-Where did she go?

-Sing-song!

They are sensibly checking into a glamorous pre-built tent.

Wipe your feet.

On the other side of the campsite, Jimmy and friends also seem to be

having a problem with the mud.

-Right, that's us.

-LAUGHTER

We'll get out and see how deep she is.

Right. Yep. Up.

Well, we got stuck a wee bit.

Probably in the driest bit of the field, too,

but it isn't a good start, but we'll get it sorted.

I'd have thought it'd have been sunshine in the middle of July

going for a camping weekend.

It's the complete opposite.

When do these things ever go to plan?

THEY CHEER

Back in the glamping field, the girls are dealing with

the challenges of getting ready for a night out

at a waterlogged festival.

-Changing before we go?

-Can we go in wellies, though?

-I'm wearing my wellies up.

-Yeah.

-What about a blow dryer?

-THEY LAUGH

At least I don't have any fake tan on.

THEY LAUGH

If wardrobe decisions and fake tan are problems for the girls,

well, at least they have shelter...

It's not a pop-up tent.

..which is more than can be said for the boys

on their first camping weekend.

That's what it looks like. There you go. Build that.

Watch where you're poking that thing.

Where is this here? I want to find out where this goes.

I can use it as an aerial later maybe.

You need to turn around. You need a good view.

Need something nice. Here, face her that way towards the Massey.

-After-party at our house.

-Our tent.

# Jump down, turn around pick a bale of cotton

# Jump down, turn around pick a bale a day

# Jump down, turn around pick a bale of cotton

# Jump down, turn around pick a bale a day... #

Come evening, the rain is still falling, but crowds

are beginning to fill the main arena.

# Yeah, we're gonna jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton

# Jump down, turn around pick a bale a day... #

Great for doing the line-dancing in.

But the rain has brought a further challenge for Simon.

The damp has affected the electrics...

MUSIC STOPS

..and the first act is cut down mid-song.

Jimmy Buckley's band rein in the crowd

while the frontman waits for his mic to come back on.

MUSIC STARTS CHEERING

Generator problems sorted, they get on with the next number.

# Workin' all summer just to try and make a dollar... #

And before too long, the lights are back up and running, too.

# The boss said, "No dice, son you gotta work late."

# Sometimes I wonder what I'mma gonna do

# Cos there ain't no cure for the summertime blues. #

Despite the summertime blues,

the country fans are enjoying their heroes.

Across the yard, Cowboy Paul and his horse Dollar

are braving the elements to bring the crowds the Western horse show,

a unique part of the Drumcoura City experience.

It's very mucky out there. Very slippy ground.

-TANNOY:

-'The quarterhorse is a very versatile horse.

'It's used in the States for roping, for cattle, for ranching.

'Paul Duffy is riding a horse that is called Dollar.'

The Kennedy clan are keen spectators,

and Tony can't resist becoming a real cowboy.

At least for a few minutes.

That's what it's all about, isn't it? Cowboys, eh?

Next year, boys, what we'll do is, we'll trade the trucks,

we'll buy a few stallions.

-I hope they're not all stallions.

-THEY LAUGH

'Very good, very good.'

She done very well for me, didn't you? You did. Yeah, you did.

And now you want to scratch yourself, don't you? Yeah.

No, it all went very well. Now, you OK now? Yeah?

With Dollar's work done for the day,

Paul is ready to cut loose at the festival.

I'm looking forward to Mike Denver playing,

and I'm looking forward to the Cash band playing here.

Looking forward to them.

Hopefully it'll be a good night, good craic.

And we'll dance a lot.

# We're going dancing tonight

# Won't you come along? #

Despite the rain, country fans are a hardy bunch,

and into the evening, paying customers are still arriving.

People are getting here.

I mean, despite everything, no parking, lashings of rain,

people are pouring into the place.

We've put this much into it, building a name, a reputation,

and we've gone through an awful lot this weekend so far.

I don't know if it's going to get any better in terms

of weather, but that's fine, you know, we'll work through it.

# Got some bills to pay

# But they're gonna have to wait

# So come on down It's time to celebrate

# We're going dancing tonight

# Won't you come along?

# We're staying out late till the sun comes up

# Singing those good old songs

# Gonna have a real good time

# You know we can't go wrong

# Welcome to... #

Out of the saddle and onto the floor,

Paul's jiving skills are impressing the visiting ladies.

I sussed him out, I saw him on the floor, I knew he could move.

I think men have to be a bit like horses. They have to move well.

Oh, I like that!

Yeah, I hope we do jive for a long time together.

I reckon I could teach him a few moves.

Paul may even have to choose between a woman and a horse...again.

That statement I made before about, "Dollar comes first,"

I think there could be a little negotiation there.

That sounds good. That sounds good to me.

# I could dance all night long

# What's a nice girl like you

# Doing in a place like this?

# Baby, how about a little kiss?

# We're having a party tonight. #

As Nathan Carter rounds off a successful night,

Simon can finally relax.

Beyond my expectations.

We got more people in there tonight

than I was expecting on a sunny, sunny summer's day.

I don't know exactly what the numbers are.

We've got to go back to the office probably tonight and figure that out

with the takings, whatever else, but it's been a pretty damn good day.

It's Sunday morning, and,

after the torrential rain of the day before,

finally there are blue skies over Drumcoura City.

MUSIC: Amarillo By Morning by George Strait

# Amarillo by morning

# Up from San Antone. #

At the glamping field, the girls are making the most of the sunshine.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYS

# I don't need fame

# No-one to know my name

# At the end of the day

# Lord, I pray

# I have a life that's good... #

-Altogether now!

-Whoo!

# Two arms around me

# Helping to ground me

# And a family that always calls me home... #

Tonight, on the main stage, Cliona will perform in front

of a much bigger festival crowd for the very first time.

# Sweet, sweet, sweet song

# At the end of the day

# Lord, I pray

# I have a life that's good. #

With a few hours to kill before Cliona's performance,

the horse-loving girls join the crowds at the western horse show.

What's the best way to stop a horse? Use the reins.

Yeah, pull back on the reins. OK. These are reins.

Happens in Ireland every day. It rains.

And we have some people in the crowd as well

that are going to help us out.

Now, these people in the crowd have never been on western horses before,

but I understand they've ridden European riding.

The girls are all experienced riders,

but being western cowgirls is something completely different.

All right, let's back up your horse two steps.

-Pull back, say, "Back, back, back."

-Back, back, back.

MAN IMITATES LORRY REVERSING BEEPS

OK. That's pretty good.

# Like a rhinestone cowboy

# Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo. #

This is the ultimate cowgirl experience, I think. It's brilliant.

The last 24 hours have been fabulous.

Between the western riding, the dancing, everything,

-it's brilliant.

-Cowgirl experience at its best.

-I know!

Dressed as cowgirls. Just a lovely atmosphere.

-You'd actually think you're in America.

-Yeah.

You'd think you're in the Wild West.

With the music about to start on the final day,

Paul is keen to line up some potential dancing partners.

-Oh, we love Dollar. Her markings are gorgeous.

-Yeah, you like her, yeah?

-She's a wee sweetie.

-A perfect wee match.

-I love her.

-Aw!

I actually left a woman for Dollar.

THEY LAUGH

We're still good friends, because she's happy

-that I left her for a horse.

-THEY LAUGH

-Any of you can jive?

-Of course we can.

-Yeah?

-So we'll get a jive later on, you?

-Yes.

# Only one thing on my mind

# I'm here for a good time

# I've often wondered

# Where would I have been

# If I had have asked her

# A little bit faster? #

The festival encourages a country dress code.

The Hillsborough boys, however,

have opted for something more like country...side?

And they aren't the easiest outfits to dance in, either.

Some fine costumes. That's some serious effort you put in.

-Did you make them yourselves?

-Oh, aye, yeah.

Fair play to you, lads.

At the American car show,

the Kennedys' vintage trucks are getting plenty of attention.

Girls, do you want to look at the truck? Don't be shy.

Here's to champagne.

HORN BLASTS

Whoo!

Cliona is hoping to make it big on the Irish country music circuit,

and tonight's performance on the Cowboys & Heroes stage

may just be the start.

# We're all gonna die someday, Lord

# We're all gonna die someday

# Mamma's on pills Daddy's over the hill

# But we're all gonna die someday

# Well, it hurts down here on Earth, Lord

# It hurts down here on Earth

# It hurts down here cos we're running out of beer

# But we're all gonna die someday

# Yeah, we're all gonna die someday, Lord

# We are all gonna die someday

# Mamma's on pills Daddy's over the hill

# But we're all going to die someday, hey! #

Cliona's performance has hit the right note,

and not just with the festival crowd.

That's my card there. We do a few shows around the country.

We do about 20 shows around the country. Give me a shout.

Oh, I will do. Thank you very much, Brian.

THEY CHEER

# Tour a lour and a tour a lay

# It's in my DNA... #

It's been a little corner of the Wild West in rural

County Leitrim and, as Leigh Matthews takes to the stage for

one last hoedown, Simon is delighted with the way things have worked out.

I think it's worked out pretty well, you know.

We've had more numbers than we were expecting.

Over the course of the weekend, probably 6,000 or 7,000.

And that's phenomenal.

Second year, country music event, absolutely phenomenal.

We're delighted.

# There's Irish in America

# There's Irish in Berlin

# You'll find us down the local

# Or even in the gym

# We'll speak in foreign accents

# Wearing multicoloured ties

# There's just no way of running from the fact

# There's Irish in our eyes

# There's just no way of running from the fact

# There's Irish in our eyes... #

Hey!

Here we go!

# Tour a lour and a tour a lay Hey! #