Dancers stepping out at last year’s FestiFál.
THE fourth annual FestiFál in Falcarragh (July 17 to 19) is just around the corner and the organisers have a very special young person opening the festival.
On Friday, brave Killygordon boy Paul Doherty will officially open FestiFál 2015 accompanied by The Fianna Padraig Pipe Band from Manchester at 7pm.
The ‘Mammy I Want To Walk’ campaign has been raising funds for five-year-old Paul who has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
He underwent a life-changing operation to help him walk in the USA in March which cost more than €60,000. More than €120,000 has been raised to date through various fund-raising ventures.
His mother, Anne Marie, says he is now stepping, walking with support and no longer confined to a wheelchair, so it will be very special for FestiFál to have him attend.
Organisers have managed yet again to put together a fantastic national and international line up for FestiFál, featuring everything from home-grown Irish traditional music and dance to artists visiting from abroad catering for all tastes.
The line-up includes highlights such as The Jed Thomson Blues Band from Yorkshire, London-based hip hop and dub step act Wagga Man and Morrison Ford, Altagore (Irish folk and rock) and Blues, reggaes and soul outfit The Brown Notes from Monaghan.
There will also be some old favourites including Declan Nearney and Seamus Moore and not to mention the one and only RAW with the ever entertaining Hugo Blake and many more.
Festival Director, Mr Rein de Groot, paid tribute to all those who make the festival possible every year, including local businesses, organisations, the local community as well as the volunteers.
Paul Doherty, who will officialy open this year’s FestiFál.