THE historic links between Donegal and Scotland are reflected in the line-up of fiddlers for this year’s Donegal Fiddle Weekend in Glenties, from Friday, October 3 to Sunday, 5th.
Playing his first concert in the county will be Douglas Lawrence from Banffshire in the north-east of Scotland, regarded as one of the finest living Scottish players and a pupil of the great Hector McAndrew.
Also on stage on Saturday night at the Highlands Hotel will be Siobhan Peoples, the outstanding fiddler from Clare with very strong Donegal connections – her father is fiddle legend Tommy Peoples from St Johnston.
The concert starts at 9pm on Saturday night and will be MC’d by the one and only Jimmy Campbell. Heading the bill is another Glenties fiddler Denise Boyle.
There’s a special treat this year with a contingent in town from County Down, including Nigel and Dianna Boullier and Geordie McAdam.
There are fiddle classes in the hotel on Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 1pm with Aidan O’Donnell, Tara Connaghan and Ronan Galvin.
There are also two talks there on Saturday at noon and 1pm. And of course there are the many informal music sessions and the craic that’s at the heart of the weekend, which has now been going for a remarkable 32 years.
Full details on the Cairdeas na bhFidiléiri Facebook page and on www.cairdeasnabhfidileiri.com, or call Mobile 086 3409019.