A number of familiar faces will be on our TV screens this Sunday as the TG4 series Slí na mBeaglaoich ventures to Donegal.
The series follows renowned West Kerry traditional musicians father and son Breanndán and Cormac Ó Beaglaoich travelling the west coast in their 40-year-old camper van, Beauty.
This Sunday 31st May at 9.30pm, Cormac and Breanndán will come to the end of their journey in Donegal, where the Begley clann left in the 17th century for the Battle of Kinsale.
They kick off their homecoming with their old friend guitarist, Steve Cooney in Teelin. Local fiddler Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill explains the significance of Donegal fiddle music in Kilcar and brings them to meet his heroes The Campbells in the glens.
They receive a warm welcome from Peter and his father Jimmy Campbell who give the lads a good taste of Donegal fiddle music with a highland set. Singer Shauna Mullin and fiddler Damien McGeehan hop into the van for a stunning performance in Glenties.
Frances Morten & Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhride
Then Breanndán and Cormac travel further north to the heart of Donegal’s Gaeltacht, Gaoth Dobhair, where Glasgow flute player Frances Morten and sean nós singer Dominic Mac Giolla Bhríde speak of the important ties between Scotland and Donegal before singing a bilingual song in Irish and Scots Gaelic.
They meet old friends concertina player Caitlín Nic Gabhann and husband, fiddle player, Ciarán Ó Maonaigh who ask how they have survived the trip with each other?
Breanndán is reassured that tradition will live on by young musicians and choir, An Crann Óg before reaching their ancestral homeland of Tullaghobegley where local historian, Séamus Doohan gives them some Begley family history. Cormac and Breanndán reflect on their journey and salute their ancestors with final tune on top of the mound.
Slí na mBeaglaoich: Sunday 31st May 9.30pm on TG4
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