DONEGAL CULTURE: This July there are some incredible festivals and events coming up in Donegal (and one in Clones), and below are six of the best!
Official Opening Loose Ends by Willie Doherty, Regional Cultural Centre Letterkenny, Saturday July 9th, continues until September 24th:
The audience response to the new Willie Doherty exhibition was universally positive. Orlaith McBride Director of the Arts Council tweeted afterwards ‘It’s superb’.
Sue MacDiarmid the exhibition designer wrote ‘Personally, I think the Loose Ends is a great show and I really enjoyed working on the installation and planning.
I also really loved the educational exhibition’. Michael O’Reilly of the Ireland 2016 Office described it as ‘Willie Doherty’s intense meditation on time and place’. Cllr. Terence Slowey Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council congratulated ‘everyone who has worked tirelessly to create this magnificent exhibition here in Donegal’.
www.regionalculturalcentre.com for additionl info
Trad Heaven in Dunlewey from Tuesday July 12th:
Trad Tráthnóna at Ionad Cois Locha Dunlewey, an exceptional series of weekly Tuesday night traditional music concerts throughout July and August, got off to an exceptional start on July 12th with the first ever public concert by the new family group Na Mooneys. Karen Matheson, Donald Shaw and Manus Lunny (all from Scottish super-group Capercaille) play on July 19th and the final July concert is Maighread and Triona NiDhomhnaill on the 26th.
http://www.tlugh.com for additional info
World Music at Earagail Arts Festival Thursday 14th and Sunday 24th July:
This year features two incredible international visitors, Chouk Bwa Libète from Haiti and Vieux Farka Touré from Mali. Chouk Bwa Libète perform a standing gig at RCC Letterkenny on Thursday 14th.
A highlight of the WOMEX World Music Expo in 2015, this authentic traditional Caribbean roots music and dance group bring the true Voodoo flavour of Haiti to Ireland for the very first time. Often referred to as ‘The Hendrix of the Sahara’, Vieux Farka Touré from Mali, the son of the late legendary guitar player Ali Farka Touré, plays McGrorys Culdaff on Sunday 24th.
http://www.eaf.ie for info and booking
Richard Dawson at RCC Letterkenny, Saturday July 16th:
Richard Dawson, the much acclaimed experimental, folk-tinged, Newcastle singer and guitarist, who weaves his songs from his experiences in North East England is supported by the Belfast based singer-songwriter Robyn G. Shiels, winner of Best Album at the Northern Ireland Music Prize Awards 2014.
Dawson, described as a skewed troubadour, will perform an intimate show that embodies timeworn singing traditions. He is a quirky figure that continues in the tradition of English eccentrics like Robert Wyatt and Kevin Coyne and according to himself he is ‘not a folk singer’.
http://www.regionalculturecentre.com for info and booking
MacGill Summer School Glenties, Saturday 16th – Friday 22nd July:
The MacGill School, now in its 36th year, will continue with its wide ranging programme on the theme of political reform.
More than fifty eminent contributors from diverse areas of public life in Ireland and abroad will look to the future and put forward their views on the changes needed to adapt to the demands of a changing society and an unstable and turbulent international environment. Exceptionally, MacGill will run for an extra day, to enable them to pay homage to Brian Friel.
http://www.macgillsummerschool.com for info and booking
Ulster Final, Clones, Sunday July 17th:
Normally the focus on Cross-Border projects is peace and reconciliation but when Donegal and Tyrone meet in the Ulster Final it’s more likely to be attrition and conflict. If last year’s spectacle in Ballybofey, with Justin McMahon hanging off Michael Murphy’s back throughout, is anything to go by, we are in for a lively encounter.
http://www.gaa.ie for info and booking
Ballyshannon Folk & Traditional Music Festival, Friday 29th – Sunday 31st July:
Another top class line-up has been announced bringing the best of folk and trad acts to the Ballyshannon stage including: Ralph McTell, Kieran Goss & Frances Black, Buttons & Bows, Eleanor Shanley, The Young Irelanders, The Ward Sisters and Blackwater Céilí Band.
http://www.ballyshannonfolkfestival.com
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