Marion Gavin and her son Fergus.
A NEW musical enterprise showcasing the talents of some of Donegal and Ireland’s most well-known traditional and folk musicians has been launched from an unlikely location.
Gypsy Wagon TV is the brainchild of keen musicians Marion and Declan Gavin who own the Meadowsweet Herb Garden and Lodge – high in the hills above Fintown.
The inspiration for Gypsy Wagon TV came from the popular Balcony TV channel. Balcony TV is a daily Internet live music show which broadcasts exclusively from a balcony of a Dublin apartment.
The couple launched the new Internet channel on Youtube recently with popular Derry musician Sean O’Donnell given the honour of the inaugural performance.
Introducing the first episode, Declan explained: “The wonderly gypsy caravan, a traditional bow topped gypsy caravan was once the proud home of a travelling family now sits proudly in the hills above Fintown.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Marion Gavin explained: “This is a new musical enterprise where we invite trad musicians in for a mug of tea some scones and of course some music.
music
“Gypsy Wagon TV is a platform for traditional and folk music and every musician is very welcome to come and give us a tune or a song.”
Their first guest Sean O’Donnell played the guitar and sang a song he learned more than 20 years ago.
The second visitors to the gypsy caravan were local musicians, Tara Conaghan and Peter Campbell who performed ‘The Girls of Ardara’ and ‘Glassagh Island’.
Yesterday afternoon (Thursday) Tommy Sands from Rosstrevor and well-known Glenties woman Breezy Willow visited the Gavins to film some songs for Gypsy Wagon TV.
“I’m particularly excited about Tommy as he was my very first contact with Irish folk music, even when I was a teenager, still living in East Germany and I have followed his music ever since,” said Marion.
She added: “Who would have thought way back then that I would invite him to sing for us in a gypsy wagon. I am over the moon!”
When not in use by musicians, the gypsy wagon forms part of the Gavin’s guest accommodation in their rural hideaway which is becoming popular with guests from all over the world.
Check out Gypsy Wagon TV here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoiry3FOj-18ibNQe9FijDA
And Meadowsweet Herb Garden and Lodge here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meadowsweet-Herb-Garden-Lodge/494103824054885