DONEGAL’s finest musical talents are bringing the sounds of the county to a festival in France that celebrates all things Celtic.
The 55th annual Festival Interceltique de Lorient takes place from July 31 to August 9 and is the world’s largest Celtic gathering.
An Irish delegation, led by Magheraroarty man Reuben Ó Conluain, flies out for the ten-day festival in Lorient, a town of about 55,000 inhabitants in southern Brittany.
They are some of the thousands of artists from across Celtic nations and diasporas who attend the festival every year.
Among those represented are Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Asturias and Galicia in Europe, as well as Cape Breton, Acadie, New Brunswick and Louisiana in North America.
Up to one million people flock to Lorient for the festival, with events including La Grande Parade televised to millions more via French-language television stations.
The festival has a special emphasis on Cornwall this year, the first time the region has ever had its own dedication.
Reuben is one of over 1,600 volunteers who make Festival Interceltique de Lorient happen.
He has been going for 40 years, drawn back to the charming town as it is transformed into a hub of music and cultural celebration.
“The word ‘different’ is only in terms of language, but there’s a sameness about the Celtic spirit and the fun and the craic,” said Reuben.
He likens the festival to St Patrick’s Day, with a delegation representing Ireland every year since it was founded in 1971.
“Lorient has been twinned with Galway for over 50 years now, and it’s a similar-sized city, but it’s extremely friendly and safe, and it’s a great place for families.
“Sometimes people travelling from the ferry from Cork to other parts of France have to go through Brittany and they swing by Lorient as well. You do often come across Irish people who just pop in on their journey to somewhere else with their families.”
Some of Ireland’s best-known performers have graced the festival over the years, including Clannad, Rory Gallagher, Sinead O’Connor, The Corrs, The Cranberries, and many more.
With that in mind, the artists who attend have the opportunity to showcase their craft to a whole new audience, and they can learn from other festivalgoers too.
“It could change their influences as well,” said Reuben.
“They might include in their sets in future a song from Scotland or a piece of a tune from Brittany or from Asturias. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them.”
There is an abundance of talented local artists joining Reuben this year.
Those with Donegal connections include flute-player Frances Morton and her partner, sean-nós musician Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde, fiddle player Ciaran Tourish, formerly of the band Altan, and guitarist Eamonn McElholm, who has played with Solas and Stockton’s Wing.
There’s also sean-nós singer Conor Gallchóir from Gort a Choirce, and two young musicians who flew to Lorient to be part of an Interceltique summer school.
They are fiddle player and singer Aoibhín Ní Fhearraigh and accordion player and guitarist Cillian
Mac Grianna, both from Gaoth Dobhair.
Reuben has emphasised the sense of togetherness that the festival builds, as artists from across all four provinces in Ireland make up the delegation.
“We always bring two pipe bands, and we’re an all-island delegation,” said Reuben.
This year’s pipe bands are Down Academy Pipe Band and Píobairí na hÉireann, who are formed from members of different bands especially for the festival.
They take part in a five-night event in the local football stadium which is watched by thousands live and later broadcast on TV.
There are many events over the 10 days, including art exhibitions, classes and concerts.
Reuben also aims to weave the Irish language into the festival as much as possible.
“My team of volunteers, a good number of those are from Donegal as well, but we operate as Gaeilge. We speak in Irish, and we try and promote the language as well as the music and the dance of Ireland out there.”