Audiences in and around Ballinasloe will have an opportunity to enjoy a diverse range of music and song throughout the summer months, as singer Eleanor Shanley and Stockton’s Wing’s frontman Mike Hanrahan are hosting a series of concerts in the town’s Moycarn Lodge & Marina Hotel. They will kick off next Friday, June 14, at 8pm, when the special guest will be Cathy Jordan of Dervish.

In this new venture for The Moycarn Lodge, Eleanor and Mike will perform six concerts during June, July and August, which will feature guests including Liam Ó Maonlaí of the Hothouse Flowers, classical guitarist John Feeley, singer/songwriter Ultan Conlon, Cathy Jordan, poet and broadcaster Vincent Woods, and local up-and-coming singer Rachel Goode.

There will also be a few surprise guests along the way. The series will finish with a gala concert on August 23, with talent from Ballinasloe and further afield.

Eleanor and Mike, who have been at the top of their profession for many years, first met through Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners.

Mike, who had been working with Ronnie for some time, produced the first album Eleanor and Ronnie made together, which included the hit, A Couple More Years. The success of that release led to the three of them making a second album, El Amor de Mi Vida, and touring globally until Ronnie’s untimely death in 2008.

These days, Eleanor and Mike work as a duo, with regular tours of Ireland and Europe.

The venue for their summer series, the Moycarn Lodge, is a modern hotel with gorgeous views overlooking Ballinasloe’s Marina and the River Suck. Newly refurbished, it has great food and a wide range of beers and cocktails.

It’s the perfect setting for these intimate concerts, according to Mike and Eleanor.

Audience participation is encouraged, as the two of them love it when the audience joins in for a good sing-along.

They plan to make this a memorable musical journey and are promising lots of quality entertainment and enjoyment in The Moycarn Lodge this summer.

Next Friday’s debut concert is with Cathy Jordan and on June 28, Ultan Conlon is the special guest, while on July 12, Eleanor and John Feeley will be joined by Liam Ó Maonlaí.

Rachel Goode will join Eleanor and Mike on July 26 and on August 9, it will be the turn of Vincent Woods.

For the grand finale on August 23, there will be a series of special guests for ‘A celebration of Ballinasloe and Beyond’ .

All concerts start at 8pm. Tickets are €30. More details at www.eleanorshanley.ie and at www.moycarnlodge.ie, 090 964050.where tickets can also be booked.

Pictured: Eleanor Shanley and Mike Hanrahan first began working together with the late Ronnie Drew.