“I HEAR voices by the sea, calling out to you and me, I hear laughter on the shore, may it last forever more…….” This Is the heartfelt experience of walkers on the 2025 Donegal Camino and also the opening lyrics of a beautiful new song and melody ‘Voices by the Sea’, created by Donegal’s renowned singer, songwriter, Mickey Joe Harte.
An annual and loyal supporter of the rapidly growing Donegal Camino, seven-day walking festival and fundraiser for Cancer Care West Support Centre Donegal, Mickey Joe Harte has generously given the exclusive first play of his new creation ‘Voices by the Sea’ as the cover music accompaniment to the video reflection of the 2025 Donegal Camino.
Four of the seven days of this year’s hugely successful Donegal Camino were spent on stunning coastal Donegal walks including Inishowen Head, Clonmany to Fort Dunree, Arranmore Island and Sliabh Liag Cliffs which makes Mickey Joe Harte’s “Voices by the Sea” an exceptionally apt and poignant piece of music to celebrate what is now the flagship fundraiser for the Cancer Care West Support Centre Donegal.
Since the very first Donegal Camino in 2021, Mickey Joe Harte has walked, sung and serenaded walkers annually. This year he went a giant step further joining the group on a stunning walk from his home town of Lifford to the award winning Oakfield Park in Raphoe. Mickey Joe Harte along with fellow Donegal musician and composer Matt Mc Granahan brought a host of musician friends together for a magical session at Oakfield to celebrate a wonderful Donegal Camino day of walking through luscious farmlands of Lifford and Raphoe.
“Growing up in Donegal, we spent many happy days relaxing and visiting our clan in various parts of the county, most of which, seemed to live on, or very close to the Atlantic Ocean,” says Mickey Joe Harte.
“I can still hear all of their individual tones, some loud and clear, some more whisper like, and others with a tune of their own, built in by time, affection, with a tangible respect of nature and the sea. The overwhelming feeling was that these were kind, helpful, deep and powerful humans, would live out their lives close to the shores of the ocean, and in turn, their lives would be shaped by that too…”
‘Voices by the sea’ is a very personal and important song to me. Being a small part of the Donegal Camino initiative for a few years now, I’m delighted that those fine folks, who tirelessly organise this wonderful fundraiser and walk to showcase the beauty of Donegal are happy to take my song to their hearts, and feature it on their 2025 video reflection of what is a stunning week of walking, people, friendships, life’s journeys, shared emotions and ultimately ‘Voices by the Sea’.”
Founder of the Donegal Camino Peggy Stringer along with its current Chair Deirdre McGlone former owner of Harvey’s Point are beyond grateful to Mickey Joe Harte for his generous, inspiring and innovative gesture of giving ‘Voices to the Sea’ to the Donegal Camino.
‘EXCELLENT AMBASSADOR’
“Mickey Joe Harte is a huge supporter of Donegal Camino and joins us annually to walk, entertain us and share its ethos which is, ultimately, to showcase the beauty of Donegal, our hospitality and our talented artists,” says Deirdre Mc Glone.
“An excellent ambassador for Donegal Camino, Mickey Joe Harte and “Voices by the Sea” showcases the impact the shared experience of walking the Donegal Camino can have and what it can inspire. We’re beyond proud to share this wonderful musical collaboration with him.”
The Donegal Camino organising committee is extremely grateful to Mickey Joe Harte for this exciting music collaboration. In addition the organising committee would like to thank sponsors Sendmode, Gallaghers Bakehouse, Donegal Tourism, Joe Coyle for his ‘Get Your Prostate Checked’ fundraising donation and each and every partner, business, community group, donator and walker who fundraised so tirelessly in 2025. A deep gratitude is also extended to volunteers and Donegal personalities and musicians who creatively supported Donegal Camino 2025 including Daniel O’Donnell, Matt McGranaghan and a host of talented artists and musicians.
Check out www.donegalcamino.ie for details and follow @donegalcamino on Facebook and Instagram for all of the lates updates and news.
