SHE'S Ireland’s Queen of Country and at the age of 80 Philomena Begley says she has no intention of relinquishing her title anytime soon. As we speak, Philomena is celebrating an incredible 60 years in showbusiness and here on 'My Country Life' she says that singing and performing is the drug that keeps her young at heart. Philomena talks about her early life growing up in the Co Tyrone village of Pomeroy, picking potatoes and cutting turf as part of her childhood chores. She recalls how she left school at 15 to work in a hat factory and fell into a music career by chance at the age of 20 when a friend dared her to get up and sing with a local band. That performance would see her go on to join the group and become a star in her own right with hits such as Truck Drivin’ Woman, Queen of the Silver Dollar and Blanket On The Ground. She recorded in Nashville, performed at the Grand Ole Opry and was one of the stars of the Wembley Country Music Festival in London. Here, Philomena also talks about her friendship with Daniel O’Donnell and that hilarious video in bed with Nathan Carter.

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