This year’s Féile na Seanbheairice is on the 14th and 15th June. The festival will include a host of events for all the family. On Friday night at 8pm, the internationally acclaimed folk group Arcanadh take to the stage in An tSean Bheairic. The group has performed all over the world and have picked up several accolades along the way including Best Newcomers at the Irish Music Awards and Best Band of the Lorient Festival Interceltique. The band’s line-up includes fiddles, whistles, harp, mandola, banjo, piano, guitars and bodhrán. Arcanadh are comprised of Sinead Gibson, who hails from Derryconner, Gortahork, and her husband Colm Breathnach from An Rinn Gaeltacht, Co. Waterford, Martin and Mags Gallen, brother and sister, from Co Monaghan, Maria Corbet from Co. Dublin,and Fiona Walsh from Co. Mayo. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to see one of the very best bands around.
Corn Cuimhneacháin Éamoinn Ghráinne, the sean-nós singing competition organised in memory of the late Eamonn Ghráinne Mac Ruairí of Tory Island and Falcarragh, will be held on Saturday the 15th of June at 8pm and is the flagship event of the festival. Eamonn Mac Ruairí was highly respected as a singer, musician and folklorist and is acknowledged as one of the masters of the Donegal seannós singing tradition. He is also recognised as one of the finest exponents of the rich musical and cultural heritage of Tory Island. The competition is open to sean-nós singers of all ages. The cup will be presented to the winner of the competition and prizes will be awarded in the following categories: best male singer; best female signer; and best singer under 18 years of age. The judge for this year’s competition is Caitríona Ní Cheannabháin. The competition will be followed by a Céilí with Martin Duggan.
Patricia Nic Ruairí, daughter of Éamoinn Ghráinne Mac Ruairí, will host a singing workshop for children on Saturday morning at 11.30am. This will be followed by “Corn Amhránaíochta Éamoinn Ghráinne do dhaoine óga”, a singing competition for children. The children and their families are sure to enjoy a fun and friendly occasion. Roisín Ní Mhainnín,the renowned sean-nós from Conamara will conduct a sean-nós dancing workshop on Saturday at 1pm. Audiences are sure to be treated to a fantastic display of seannós dancing, as competitors compete for “Corn na Seanbheairice”. Paddy McHugh, of An tSean Bheairic had this to say: “We have some very unique and valuable cultural assets here in the Donegal Gaeltacht. It is a very rich culture that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Therefore, I am delighted that the festival is showcasing the best of Gaeltacht culture in a way that audiences of all types will enjoy.
For further information contact Paddy at 074 9180655. Festival Programme, including upcoming summer events, available at: www.antseanbheairic.com
