Ceol na Coille Summer School and Trad Fest, now in its 13th year, returns to Letterkenny, from July 8 to July 12.
The festival is packed with events to suit the traditional music enthusiast and the culturally curious with family friendly, inclusive, and free public activities with workshops, recitals, concerts, sessions and talks.
Events celebrating local musicians Jim Doherty and Paddy Tunney are among highlighted events at this year’s Summer School.
On Tuesday July 9 at 12 noon Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí takes place which celebrates the music and life of esteemed local fiddler, Jim Doherty of Legnahorry, Kilmacrennan. There will be an Illustrated lecture with photos, recordings and live playing which will be delivered by Dr Caoimhin Mac Aoidh.
This presentation is a deserving celebration of the well-loved local musician, hugely admired locally and further afield. Since Jim’s passing in 2012, Ceol na Coille have been honoured each year to pass on one of Jim’s Fiddles to a promising young fiddler.
On Wednesday July 10 there’s an event called Restringing The Stone Fiddle in the Regional Cultural Centre Letterkenny at 8pm. The event is a performance of Paddy Tunney’s classic song memoir, a marriage of stories, songs, music and dance. The Tunney Song Tradition Trust, in association with the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, will launch a new edition of Paddy Tunney’s The Stone Fiddle.
This recital, a performative reading of the text, will feature members of Paddy Tunney’s extended family and invited guest performers including Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Rita Gallagher, Lillis O’Laoire, Shauna Mullin and Michael Carey.
There will also be daily workshops for advanced players of all ages, a Trad Camp for Kids, which caters for young and upcoming musicians aged 5+years. No experience is needed for this popular workshop, but early booking is essential.
Traditional singing with Inishowen’s Deirdre McGrory and traditional dance workshop with Mary McGuiggan from Co. Derry, are also part of the program this year.
Further highlights for this year’s festival include a Trad Group Workshop for teenagers with a newly commissioned piece of music from Donegal musician, Theresa Kavanagh, kindly supported by the RCC and Líonra Leitir Ceanainn. Acclaimed Fiddler, Sinead McKenna and her band will be performing in the RCC on Thursday, July 11.
For more information or to register , please visit www.ceolnacoille.ie or email info@ceolnacoille.ie
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