ONE of Ireland’s most revered singers is set to bring a new spin to classics from his homeland with his latest tour.

Damien Dempsey will be celebrating two decades in the music industry with his Great Irish Songbook shows in March 2018.

He will be performing well loved songs from the likes of The Pogues and The Dubliners and he will be stopping off at the Parr Hall on Sunday, March 18.

Damien was exposed to music when he was just a toddler as his parents’ friends used to come to the house to perform impromptu sets after sessions in the pub.

He soon developed a love for artists such as Christy Moore, Luke Kelly, Shane MacGowan, Bob Marley and Elvis Presley.

Damien spent most of his teenage years in his bedroom singing, learning to play the guitar and eventually penning his own songs.

This culminated in him coming second in a 2FM radio station competition.

Damien also trained alongside his older brothers as an amateur boxer before fully committing himself to music.

He cut his teeth at ‘rock school’ Ballyfermot College of Further Education and rose to fame in 1997 when his first single, Dublin Town reached number 18 in the Irish music charts.

The song caught the attention of Sinead O’Connor, who he later collaborated and toured with.

The singer-songwriter’s original folk has garnered him many Meteor awards such as Best Folk/Traditional Act and Best Irish Country/Roots Artist.

And he released his seventh studio album Soulsun in May, which features guest vocals from the likes of Dido and fellow Dubliner Imelda May.

His social commentary on contemporary Ireland and themes of perseverance and positivity are consistent in all of his songwriting.

But on this tour will see perform covers of some of his favourite Irish acts.

Damien is no stranger to covers, having released The Rocky Road in 2008, which includes a version of The Pogues’ A Rainy Night in Soho alongside other renditions of well-known ballads.

n Damien Dempsey performs at Warrington’s Parr Hall on March 18. For tickets visit pyramidparrhall.com, thegreatirishsongbook.co.uk or call 442345.

DAVID MORGAN