Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh has visited all four corners of the globe over the past thirty-five years with Irish folk music band Altan. At times, holidays back in West Donegal were less frequent than she would have liked due to a busy touring calendar. However, since the outbreak of the pandemic last March Mairéad has spent […]
Notes from a talented Letterkenny luthier
FROM the workshop behind his Letterkenny home, a talented and highly reputable luthier named Fitz Howard is busy hand-crafting another of his guitars. Howard’s signature sound has led to him working closely with Altan’s Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh’s while the late Henry McCullough, the only Irishman to play Woodstock, and who joined Paul McCartney in Wings […]
Croke Park groundsman goes back to school in Donegal
ONE of the groundsmen who helped look after the Croke Park pitch ahead of recent All-Ireland Senior Football and Hurling Championship finals is working on a project much closer to home these days. Hughie O’Donnell, who operates his own Groundwork and Landscaping Service in Annagry, is developing a new playing field and running track at […]
Musician is hoping ‘irreplaceable’ violin can be fixed
Mairéad is now hoping that she can find a fiddle-maker on Shetland who can repair her instrument.
Earagail Arts: A new folk and roots experience
EARAGAIL Arts Festival launched an exciting, fun-filled festival programme at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny this week.
Earagail Arts Festival reveals first major ‘Folk & Roots’ concerts
THE Earagail Arts Festival has just announced details of a very special weekend taking place during the popular annual summer event.
Memory Lane: When Altan teamed up with the Queen of Country
AS Altan prepare to launch their latest album recorded in Nashville, we decided to take a trip down memory lane to when the beloved Donegal group teamed up with one of Tennessee’s most famous daughters.
Altan’s first Nashville album due for release next month
ONE of the country’s most famous traditional music groups, Altan, is set to release its new album next month.
COMPETITION: Altan pays tribute to Frankie at Temple Bar TradFest
COURTESY of the Temple Bar Tradfest, the Donegal News is delighted to be able to give away two tickets to Altan’s concert at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, on Saturday, January 25.
Festival director applauds success of 2013 Earagail Arts
THE organisers of the 25th Earagail Arts festival have hailed it as a major success. Following the closure of this year’s festival on a real high, the festival’s director has said it was the volunteers that made it such a successful event in this special ‘Gathering’ year.