Ahead of that comes the release this week of Damien Dempsey: Party On Live At Vicar Street, which features 18 of his classics and an extensive interview.

In top form recently at The Music Show, Damo is also set to appear on the posthumous Ronnie Drew album, which is out on November 14 and will be reviewed in our next issue.

An eleventh hour decision will be made as to whether the collection is called A Fond Farewell or The Last Wave – the latter being the title of a new song co-written with Sunday Independent editor Aengus Fanning.

Also hitting the racks at Christmas is the autobiography Ronnie was working on at the time of his death, which family members have finished off.

Dempsey will be performing at the Button Factory on December 21.

Tickets priced €14.45 go on sale on Thursday, October 30.