THE Balor, Ballybofey will host an array of performances in the next couple of weeks as part of the 2026 Earagail Arts Festival.
A programme deeply invested in showcasing Donegal artists will feature The Finn Valley Men’s Choir, a launch of new music from Ballybofey musician Patrick McMenamin and a gig from Ardara’s Tanya McCole as well as Traditional Irish music from The Maurice Lennon Trio. There will also be a feast of new original music at a special Ghostlight Session headlined by Bell X1’s David Geraghty.
The first Earagail Arts Festival event at The Balor is the ever popular Finn Valley Men’s Choir this Friday, July 10. This will feature over 30 men from the Donegal and Tyrone border region; they are the first all-male cross-border/cross-community choir in the North West. An annual visitor to The Balor, their new show is packed with a wide and varied selection encompassing popular musical numbers and contemporary favourites from The Beatles, The Proclaimers, Abba and more.
The following Thursday (July 16) sees a special Earagail Arts Festival edition of The Ghostlight Sessions. Now in its 9th year, The Ghostlight Sessions is one of the country’s longest running established original emerging music nights. Each night features 3, 30 minute sets performed by some of Ireland’s best new musical talent.
Headlining this Earagail Ghostlight Sessions is David Geraghty. Geraghty is a founding member and creative force of Bell X1. He’s joined by Dubliner, Ciaran Moran who’s currently creating a wave with sellout Dublin shows on Whelan’s and Vicar Street already in 2026. Completing the bill is Clara McHugh, an indie folk artist from Tyrone.
David Geraghty
Highly regarded Ballybofey singer-songwriter Patrick McMenamin marked a major personal and creative milestone in March of this year with the release of his debut EP The More Things Change. He’s put together an all-star band of Donegal musicians – Orri Mc Brearty on guitar, Marty Smyth on bass, Mark McGirr (drums) and John Doherty on keyboards – to take it live, kicking off a national tour in his hometown of Ballybofey on Saturday July 18.
Next up on Sunday July 19 is The Maurice Lennon Trio. Founding member of Stockton’s Wing Maurice Lennon is joined by multi-instrumentalists Ciara Brennan and Chris Dawson for a dynamic and diverse evening of both traditional and newly composed Irish music.
Rounding out a fabulous musical line-up at The Balor for the Earagail Arts Festival is Ardara musical treasure Tanya McCole (Saturday, July 25). Opening for Tanya on the night is Ó hEaráin the solo project of Donegal-born songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Herron.
Ardara’s Tanya McCole.
That’s 5 great gigs at The Balor over the course of the 2026 Earagail Arts Festival. Tickets for all the above available from The Balor Box Office on 0749131840 or online at www.balorartscentre.com.