Philomena Begley scores with Dungannon Swifts soundtrack

Did you ever hear the one about the Queen of Country and the County Tyrone football club?

Philomena Begley is one of Irish country music’s most loved and celebrated entertainers who has been working in the industry for more than 60 years.

Meanwhile, Dungannon Swifts are about to compete in their first Irish Cup final in almost 20 years.

It might be an unlikely pairing, but the country legend’s music has emerged as the surprise soundtrack for the team’s supporters club.

It comes as the town of Dungannon could become the unlikely sporting capital of Northern Ireland.

The local rugby and hockey clubs, which are both only minutes away from the Swifts’ home ground along the Moy Road, are also striving for major silverware.

On Saturday, the same day Dungannon Swifts play Cliftonville in the Irish Cup final at Windsor Park, Dungannon Rugby Club will be competing in the Ulster Senior Cup final at Kingspan Stadium.

Meanwhile, Dungannon Ladies Hockey Team who recently won the Irish Hockey Challenge Cup, are hoping to retain the Ulster Senior Cup with a final later in May.

As for Ms Begley’s Blanket on the Ground becoming the unofficial anthem for the Swifts and their journey to the cup final, Dillon Boyd from The Spirit of ’49 Dungannon Swifts supporters club said it all started after the Pomeroy woman’s song was played on the bus radio on an away trip and “the whole place just took off”.

“It works because us young lads, we sing away at the back of the bus and it gets the older members of the club at the front of the bus involved, because they grew up around that type of country music,” said the 24-year-old.

Nobody has been more pleasantly surprised by her recent connection with Dungannon Swifts fans than the Queen of Country herself.

Speaking to BBC News NI ahead of the Irish Cup final, Ms Begley said she was “shocked, but delighted” with the response.

She added: “It’s been a lovely surprise, to have found this new connection to a group of fans I didn’t even know I had.

“To tell you the truth, I’m really honoured and I hope the team do really well.”

Recently, Ms Begley even surprised fans and players with an in-person performance at Dungannon Swifts’ Stangmore Park club house.

But it’s not just country music legends who are getting involved in the final build-up, excitement has spread across Dungannon.

The town centre is covered with blue and white bunting with many local businesses showing their support.

Stephen Mohan runs a clothing business in Dungannon.

“There’s a real energy about the place,” he said.

Stephen has also been showing his support for the club by kitting out the players in tailored suits for the final.

He said: “The Swifts have one of the lowest budgets in this league this year, so we felt our players deserved this and I think it’s made the guys feel more connected to the football club too and hopefully that has spilled onto the pitch as well.”

Directly across the road from Dungannon Swifts’ home ground, the local primary school are also showing their support with handmade good luck posters on the side of the building.

Phyllis McWilliams is the school’s principal.

She said: “The build-up has been so exciting, in the mornings speaking to the parents and the children coming, all they want to talk about is the Swifts.”

Reuben is aged 10 and has been a Swifts supporter for as long as he can remember.

He said: “If we win the final, it would mean a lot to everyone, the players and the school as well, so I’m really excited.”

As for Dungannon Ladies Hockey Team’s upcoming final in the Ulster Senior Cup, team captain Lucy Redmond said the town is buzzing with the local sides doing so well.

“Trophies are great, but I just love the game of hockey, and it’s the same with all the girls here, we go out just for love of the game,” she said.

“But I have to say with us and the other clubs in finals it’s created a fantastic atmosphere around the town, and it’s great because it gives the young people coming through these clubs something to aspire to.”

Irish Cup holders Cliftonville have won it nine times, whereas the Swifts have yet to win Northern Ireland football’s premier cup competition.

Dillon Boyd says it has already been a success story for the Swifts and Dungannon no matter what happens on Saturday.

He said: “It would mean everything to the town for the lads to win, a bit of good news and we’re going in as underdogs, but that’s OK we like that and we’ve already shown what we’re capable of.

“So whatever happens on Saturday, we’ve already shown the community spirit connected to this club and we all believe this club can really go places.”