Sample the best of the country right in the middle of the town

PORTADOWN'S annual 'Country Comes To Town' festival is on Saturday, September 16.

It's the day when residents of County Armagh's biggest town hand the streets over to their country cousins and invite them to showcase all of what is best about the rural way of life.

Tractors and farm machinery – both modern-day and vintage – will be on display, with some of yesteryear's great big traction engines and threshers showing how things used to be done in more gentle, less frantically-paced, pre-carbon emission-conscious times.

Farm animals – birds as well as mammals – will be there in huge numbers to remind ‘townies’ of the source of so much of the food they take for granted and with this being the time of year when churches celebrate the harvest, that is particularly appropriate.

As ever, country music will be a day-long mainstay with individual performers, duos, trios, quartets and quintets on stage large and small at a variety of venues dotted around the town.

Pride of place this year goes to John McNicholl and his band. Originally from Foreglen near Dungiven on the Glenshane Pass, his debut album, Something Old, Something New, earned him the Irish World Best Newcomer Award when it was released in 2004.

A lot of water has passed under the proverbial bridge since then, of course and among his other claims to fame is the fact that he also represented Ireland at the CMA Global Showcase in Nashville, the captial of country music.

When you’re invited to represent your country and perform there, you know you’re getting something right.

His other albums have included What's A Guy Gotta Do, The Irish Collection, You Are No Angel, Someone Like You, It's Your Love, Love Songs and The Singles Album.

As ever, there will also be a number of vintage cars on show, though for many the use of the adjective ‘vintage’ to describe cars some of us were driving what still seems just a short time ago is a wee bit worrying!

Children are unlikely to be concerned about such things, of course, so they can avail of the bouncy castles and roundabouts while dad or grandpa reminisce about once having driven vehicles now considered to be ‘classic’ or, perish the thought, ‘antique models’...

And while the youngsters enjoy the bouncy castles and roundabouts, older dare devils may choose to board one or two of the much faster rides on which to demonstrate their bravery.

To all of this add the opportunity to savour any one of the numerous examples of street food ranging from basic burgers and plain pizza up to something a little more spicey, succulent and adventurous.

Finally, stir in a very generous helping of living history and you have all of the ingredients necessary to complete a great day out ‘in the country’, though still in the heart of the town.

How do they do that? Go along and see for yourself on Saturday, September 16.

And do you know what? There’s no cover charge!