DONEGAL is set to share in a €3.5M tourism bonanza next year – thanks to 400 people on the fiddle!
For the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention will take place in Donegal and Derry for the first time next year.
More than 400 musicians and 40,000 tourists are expected to converge on both counties for the five-day event from June 27th to July 1st next year.
Performers from Ireland, Scotland, the US, Canada, Denmark and Norway are among those scheduled to take part.
They include The Chieftains, The String Sisters featuring Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh; Liz Carroll from the US; Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill; Cathal Hayden; and the Wrigley Sisters.
The festival has previously been held in Scotland, Sweden and Canada.
Convention director and fiddle player Liz Doherty said the event was “about cultural exchange, developing new audiences, forging partnerships”.
The event was launched at the University of Ulster in Derry by Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains.
Meanwhile another reminder that two of Donegal’s finest fiddlers are getting ready for a special homecoming gig.
Derek McGinley and Tara Connaghan (pictured) from Meenacharvey (Glencolmcille) and Glenties respectively celebrated the first launch of their new CD at the Ennis Trad Festival on November 13th to a large and attentive audience.
The CD entitled The Far Side of the Glen, featuring just the two fiddles of Derek and Tara, focuses solely on the musical style and repertoire of south west Donegal with the title referring to them living on either side of the scenic valley of Glengesh.
The CD will shortly be launched on home turf with launches in Carrick on Friday December 9th in The Central Bar and Saturday December 10th in the Highlands Hotel, Glenties. (Free entry to both).
The fiddle pair will also perform as special guests with Altan on New Year’s night in Ionad Cois Locha during the Frankie Kennedy Winter School.
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