Two giants of music from Glenties to be celebrated this weekend

A TV special this Sunday will celebrate the achievements of Donegal fiddle legends Jimmy and Vincent Campbell.

TG4’s ‘Ceol ón Earagail‘ shines a light on two giants of music in the Glenties area, and far beyond, bringing together friends and family to tell the story of the tradition musicians who are both now sadly passed.

Cathal Ó Curráin meets Jimmy’s son, Peter Campbell, and on stage in An Grianán Theatre viewers will hear many of the Campbells musical friends, including Dermot McLaughlin, Martin McGinley, Aidan O’Donnell, Denise Boyle, Tara Connaghan, Anne Connaghan, Conal Mac Ceallabhuí, and many more.

Ciarán Ó Maonaigh and Caitlín Nic Gabhann share music and memories and in Dinny’s the audience will meet another giant of music in Donegal, Danny Meehan.

Ceol ón Earagail Ceiliúradh na Campbells airs on TG4 Sunday 16^th June 9.30pm

The traditional music series, Ceol ón Earagail,  which started airing on TG4 in February, combines highlights of concerts recorded in front of live audiences at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, during Earagail Arts Festival, with specially curated intimate performances recorded in various locations around Donegal in the summer of 2023.

This is the second year in a row that well-known production company ANIAR has covered the festival and includes a stellar line-up of musical talent, including Bríghde Chaimbeul with Aidan O’Rourke and Saileog Ní Cheannabháin, Lisa O’Neill, Flook, Fidil and many more.

Renowned young Irish traditional artists, Sibéal Ní Chasaide and Cathal Ó Curráin are also back on presenting duties for the seven-part series.

Hosting from Earagail Arts Festival, and other musical venues around the county, Sibéal and Cathal bring us the best of singers and musicians from across the island of Ireland and further afield.

Next week’s episode will also have the familiar sounds of Donegal artists. The Abair Amhrán special looks at one of Ireland’s favourite Irish language songbooks, ‘Abair Amhrán’. In this programme presenter Sibéal Ní Chasaide meets some of the singers who learnt some of their earliest, and favourite songs from this tiny little book, and who still sing those songs.

The editor of the new edition of the book, Marcas Ó Murchú shares some of his favourite songs along with family, Róise and Caitríona Ó Murchú and we also Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Emma Ní Fhíoruisce, and Conor Ó Gallchóir and in An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny we have Na Casaidigh.