THERE will be a wealth of story, poetry, music, culture, heritage and new insights available for all at Líonra Leitir Ceanainn’s An Focal Beo festival which will run in the town from Sunday, May 11 to Friday, May 23.
To set things off there will be a bus tour round the Fanad Peninsula with local expert Art Lynch on Sunday, May 11.
There will be plenty to learn about townlands and placenames as well as the heritage and history of the area.
A bus will leave Letterkenny at 2pm but you need to book your place with Líonra Leitir Ceanainn.
Tickets cost €5 but the tea and buns at Fanad Lighthouse are included!
This event will be in Irish throughout.
Jack Warnock a fabulous musician from County Derry who is steeped in the Irish language will be playing in The Cottage on Thursday, May 15 from 9pm to 10.30pm.
Jack has performed at events, festivals and venues around the world such as Other Voices, the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton and Kalajoki in Finland.
He has just recently returned from a tour of America.
One hundred and twenty years ago a Donegal man was taken before the courts simply because the name on his cart was in Irish. The historic story of Niall Mac Giolla Bhríde and his ‘trucailín donn’ will be presented in an excellent documentary in the Central Library in Letterkenny on Friday, May 16 at 11am. Entry is free but you do need to book with the library.
Whether you are an Irish language learner or fluent there will be something for you in the intensive Irish course on Saturday, May 17. There will be classes – at three different levels – from 10am to 1pm and then, after a tasty lunch, there will be a storytelling workshop with the award-winning Gearóidín Breathnach, followed by a a sean-nós dancing workshop with Frank and Eileen Sweeney.
The day only costs €10 including lunch but you will need to register with Líonra Leitir Ceanainn.
On the same day in Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin from 1-4pm there will be a Lá Teaghlaigh/Family Day with art and crafts, storytelling, games and, of course, face painting. All events will be through Irish and all participants are invited to use as much Irish as possible.
The Líonra Leitir Ceanainn team will be there to help out with new words and phrases.
Cathal Ó Searcaigh will be the guest at the Club Leabhar an Iarthuaiscirt on Tuesday, May 20.
The group has been reading Cathal’s new novel ‘Saighdiúir’ over recent months and will have the opportunity to discuss this powerful anti-war novel with the author on the night.
If you haven’t read the book but are interested in Cathal Ó Searcaigh’s writing you are very welcome to come along.
To draw the festival to a close on a high note, Noel Ó Gallchóir will be in Kinnegar Taproom 6.30 to 8pm on Friday, May 23 to share his powerful, personal insight into
the life and work of Pádraig Pearse.
There will be a blend of story, poetry and music together with a bite to eat in the welcoming ambience of the Kinnegar Brewery Taproom.
The festival organisers extend thanks to Foras na Gaeilge for providing funding for this festival as well as to all the organisations which give support and help.
Further information and registration available on Lionralc.ie or contact eolas@lionralc.ie 086 0751663
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