Beautiful South and Housemartins star adds Laois to 32-county Irish Mission

The former lead singer of the Beautiful South and 80s group The Housemartins Paul Heaton is making more progress in his ambition to play every county on the Ireland with the addition of Laois show to March tour.

Paul Heaton has announced that five gigs in March that will mean he have played all 24 counties on the island. Portlaoise is the final stop on latest leg of his 'mission' at the end of the month.

Surprisingly, despite Laois having the Electric Picnic and of late Forest Fest, Heaton has never graced stage in the county during his career.

"We’re pleased to announce a series of intimate Irish shows as Paul continues in his mission to play all 32 counties of Ireland during his career and also become the first major chart star to achieve the feat. If you know otherwise please let us know," said a post on Heaton's social media.

The English singer-songwriter has enjoyed a stellar indie pop career which began in the 1980s when he burst onto the scene as lead singer and main lyricist of the Housemartins, with several singles including "Happy Hour" and the UK number-one single "Caravan of Love" in 1986, before the band disbanded.

The other big name to emerge from The Housemartins was the DJ Norman Cook. MORE BELOW.

Heaton formed the Beautiful South with the Housemartins' drummer, Dave Hemingway, and the band's debut single. They had a series of hits throughout the 1990s, including the number-one single "A Little Time" and 'You Keep it All In'. They disbanded in 2007.

Heaton pursued a solo career, which produced three albums, and in 2014 he released What Have We Become?, a collaboration with former Beautiful South vocalist Jacqui Abbott. 

Heaton then went on to release two further solo albums, a musical called ‘The 8th’ and after teaming up with former Beautiful South bandmate Jacqui Abbott, released five acclaimed albums as a duo with their last two both going straight into the UK Chart at Number 1.

READ ALSO: Laois troop of troubadours also all set for big launch 

The Irish gigs are part of the tour of his latest album The Mighty Several. He's promising hits from right through his career he and his band take to the stage with special guest singer Rianne Downey at Kavanagh's Bar & Venue, on Main St, Portlaoise on Saturday, March 29.

Tickets for the Portlaoise show are on sale at 9:30 am Friday, February 14 HERE.