A popular weekend celebrating Inishowen’s love of traditional music gets underway next week.
On Friday October 13 the Seamus Grant weekend, in Clonmany, will mark its sixth anniversary and organisers say they plan on making this year’s festivities the biggest to date.
The weekend celebrates the heritage, music, genealogy and culture of Clonmany and is dedicated to the memory of one of its most famous musicians – Seamus Grant.
This year’s line-up includes renowned Glenfin fiddle player Paddy McMenamin, Northern Exposure, Mick Denieffe, Reel Trad and Rab Cherry.
Born in 1934 in the townland of Gortnahinsion, in Clonmany, Seamus was the son of musicians Mary Ann Grant and Willie Grant.
His parents’ love of music was passed on to him along with the teachings of his uncle, Willie Joe Grant, and neighbour ‘White’ Dan Doherty, who later became his father in law.
Living through an era when traditional music was under threat from Rock, Pop and Country music, Seamus stayed true to his roots and continued to play old tunes and ceilis at weddings, parties and other local gatherings.
He also passed on the tradition by teaching young people of the area.
Chairman of the Seamus Grant Weekend organising committee, Pat McGonigle, said: “We are so excited to celebrate the 2017 Seamus Grant Weekend and have some really impressive musicians lined up for this year’s event, including Paddy McMenamin who is a self-taught fiddle player from the Glenfin Gaeltacht.
“When we set up the weekend back in 2012, we did so to honour the great life and work of Seamus Grant and the annual weekend is a wonderful tribute to him. But now, six years, on the weekend has grown in success and popularity – more than we could have ever envisioned – and attracts musicians and concert-goers from all over Donegal, Ireland and even as far as America.
“The weekend of events caters for all and we have a variety of activities taking place, including beginners’ music workshops, trad sessions and concerts. We hope to entice more people than ever to Clonmany this year for the event in the hope that we can pass on Seamus’ love and passion of traditional music.”
The Seamus Grant Weekend starts on Friday (October 13) at 8.30pm in the Market House, Clonmany, with Paddy McMenamin in the company of Mick Denieffe. It will be followed by a pub session in the Square Bar and McFeely’s bar afterwards, at 10pm.
A host of activities takes place on Saturday (October 14) including beginners’ music workshops, fiddle assessment clinics, a talk by Rab Cherry who is one of Ireland’s foremost fiddle makers and restorers as well as an exhibition by local schools.
On Saturday evening a concert will be held at the Ballyliffin Hotel, at 8pm, with bluegrass band, Northern Exposure, supported by the best of our local musicians.
On Sunday (October 15) an afternoon of music, song and dance in a traditional style and setting will take place at Glendowen, Meentagh Glen.
Young musicians are set to perform in the Ballyliffin Hotel, at 4pm, and a trad session will take place at the Rusty Nail at 5.30pm before the weekend comes to a close at the Market House in Clonmany at 8pm for the farewell session.
For more information visit www.SeamusGrantWeekend.com
Seamus Grant (1934 – 2005)
Seamus Grant was a talented and widely respected fiddle player from the townland of Gortnahinsion, in the parish of Clonmany.
He passed on the tradition by teaching young people of the area and those who were privileged to have their first introduction t music from Seamus remember the man as much as the music – the dignity, the decency and the wisdom that cam as easily to him as the tunes.
Paddy McMenamin
Paddy is a self-taught fiddle player from the Glenfin Gaeltacht. He is a part-time farmer who would have heard the music from his father and mother, as well as from some of the many great fiddle players from around that area.
Paddy launched a widely acclaimed first album last year titled ‘Paddy McMenamin and friends’.
Northern Exposure
Brendan Hendry and Jonny Toman were special guests to the 2016 Seamus Grant Weekend and are welcomed back this year to perform in concert as part of the well-known Bluegrass group ‘Northern Exposure’. They will be joined on stage by Jonny’s father Peter Toman and his uncle Patsy Toman.
Bluegrass is a genre of music with close links to our Irish tradition and, although it is widely popular, we rarely get a chance to hear it played in these parts by such widely acclaimed performers.
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