Broadcaster Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí speaking to Gearóid Ó Maonaigh (Frankie’s brother-in-law) and Conor Byrne, director of the winter school. In the background is Anne Mooney (nee Kennedy), sister of the late Frankie Kennedy.
THE Frankie Kennedy Winter School 2012 will be officially launched on the Rónán Beo@3 programme on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on Thursday, November 29, broadcast live from Queen’s University Belfast.
The public is welcome to attend the programme, which will include excellent traditional musicians and singers, and will be broadcast from the Students Union Building in Queens form 3pm – 5pm.
Rónán Beo @3, normally broadcast from Raidió na Gaeltachta’s studios in Gaoth Dobhair in Donegal, will relocate to Belfast for this very special event.
Piper Robbie Hannan will officially launch the school, and there will be a host of other guest musicians and singers performing live including Dermot McLaughlin, Úna Monaghan, At First Light, Tara and Dermie Diamond, Conor Byrne, Gearóid Ó Maonaigh, Réalta, and musicians from Queens including Dr. Martin Dowling, Christine Dowling, Nollaig Casey, Conor Cadwell agus Úna Monaghan.
The event will be all the more special since Frankie Kennedy was originally from Belfast, and also attended Queens University.
The Frankie Kennedy Winter School will take place in Gaoth Dobhair in the Donegal Gaeltacht from 27 December to 1 January. The school was founded in Gaoth Dobhair in 1994 after the sad passing of Belfast-born flute player Frankie, a founder member of Altan.
There will be events for all the family, including a series of concerts from Ireland’s finest artists, including Altan, Andy Irvine, Séamie O’Dowd, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Steve Cooney, At First Light, and the return of the New Year’s Hooley, Ceol, Craic agus Céilí with Breandán Begley and Steve Cooney, Reel It, plus much more.
One of the other events on this year’s calendar is a concert to celebrate Raidió na Gaeltachta’s 40th Birthday and acknowledge their major contribution to promoting traditional music culture.
This will be recognized with performances from a variety of Donegal musicians and singers.
The launch of the Frankie Kennedy Winter School 2012 will be broadcast live from 3pm-5pm from the Students Union Building.
It’s guaranteed to be a good show, so come along if you like, or tune in at 3pm. Also live online www.rte.ie/rnag.