WHILE standing only a hand or two over leprechaun height, Jamie (pictured below), the Irish singer, has a voice to outmatch that of even the Mighty Quinn.

He earned his little leprechaun tag many years ago. "I was then very new to the game and appeared on stage in some shocking green Irish pants", he explains with a chuckle. "The leprechaun tag, which I've happily managed to get rid of, came rolling in from there."

But since then, as a charismatic vocalist living in Haydock, he hits the Northern stages in immaculate style, with talent to stream out a fantastic medley of songs, from Irish lullabies and lively jigs to stirring Josef Locke numbers, traditional comic songs and ballads and melodies with deep sentimental meaning.

And now, to mark his 20 years in the concert game, a special night has been set aside for him at St Helens Theatre Royal on September 9.

He will be the guest of honour, supported by his own musical accompaniment of Dave Garnett (musical director and keyboards) and Steve Wood (percussionist). He'll be backed, too, by the successfully droll Irish comic Dusty Young and by the Sudden Impact dancing girls, with Les Howard as MC.

Tickets for the 'all-singing, all-dancing show' are already on sale, so if you'd like a lively slice of Irish life from Jamie (full name James O'Hare) then this is the time to grab one at the theatre. They cost £6, £1 of which goes to Willowbrook Hospice.

Jamie, who was born in Dundalk but came to English shores to become restaurant and banqueting manager at the Post House, Haydock (now the Holiday Inn), says: "I've had some great response and a real affection with all my audiences.

"I can thank Mike Callaghan, a terrific organist, for talking me into having a real go on stage. It's been a great life ever since and we're still the best of pals."