Philomena Begley

Philomena Begley, born on October 20, 1942 in Pomeroy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, is a country music singer. She worked in a hat factory before her musical career began with the Old Cross Céilí Band. In September 1970, the band changed its name to The Country Flavour and Begley's first chart hit was "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" which reached number 7 in the Irish chart. In 1974, she formed the Ramblin' Men. Her version of Billie Jo Spears' "Blanket on the Ground" became a significant hit in Ireland in 1975. Begley regularly toured with Ray Lynam and they recorded many duets together, including "My Elusive Dreams." She undertook major tours of the United States starting from 1977 and was invited to sing at the Grand Ole Opry by Porter Wagoner in 1978. In 2020, Begley became the first lady inducted into ICMA Hall Of Fame.