Damien Dempsey for tour and pre-Christmas hometown gig

The Dubliner plays Vicar St on December 17. The Rocky Road employed traditional Irish ballads and went to number 1 in the Irish charts.

Dempsey will also head out on a massive tour throughout September, October and November, calling at Culdaff McGrory's (September 26), Ennis Glor (27), University of Limerick (October 1, students only), Mullingar The Stables (3), Cork Savoy (4, Cork Folk Festival), Balleyboffey Balor Arts Centre (8), Sligo The Clarence (9), Cloughanover Campbells Tavern (11), Thurles Source Arts Centre (23), Navan Backroom Sessions, Lantern Bar (24), Castleblayney Iontas (25), Clifden Station House Theatre (26), Athlone Passion Fruit Theatre (November 2), Drogheda Mc Hugh's (22), Celbridge Setanta House (23), Monaghan The Brewery (25), Castlebar The Linen Hall (26), Tullamore The Thatch (28), Dundalk Spirit Store (29) and Belfast Empire (30).

“I want to give the young kids an alternative to the new MTV generation, gangster rap, Britney Spears and maybe get them interested in their own history through music,” says Damo of his latest work.

Tickets for the Vicar St show go onsale this Friday September 5, priced €31.